Abad: Local officials prone to SARO scam

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said Tuesday local officials who are unaware of budgetary processes are more susceptible to the scam involving the alleged release of fake special allotment release orders (SAROs).

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer 990AM, Abad said that local officials are usually unaware of the processes regarding the release of funds for projects.

“The usual victims are the local officials (mayors) since they do not have an idea how our budgetary process happens,” Abad said.

According to Abad, dubious individuals who have access to the Department of Budget and Management will duplicate numerous copies of SARO forms and forge the signature of Assistant Secretary Luz Cantor to milk local officials of funds to be used usually for farm-to-market roads.

“We do not release advanced copies since it would need numerous signatures from our office,” Abad said. “When we saw the confiscated forms from Region 2, I personally compared the signatures from the fake SAROs and Assistant Secretary Cantor’s, it was far too different.”

The secretary said since local officials are not familiar with the SARO process, they fall for photocopied forms and the individuals who pose as representatives of DBM would sign the forms in front of the official.

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