Santiago seeks Senate probe on ‘misuse’ of P2.7-B pork

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago sought on Monday a Senate probe on the alleged misuse of P2.7 billion in pork barrel funds in the hands of local executives in 2013, as found by the Commission on Audit.

Santiago saw the need to monitor the use of public funds to ensure these would not be used for non-existent projects.

This monitoring would also pave the way for transparency in all stages of the implementation of projects, she added.

Santiago said she filed a resolution to look into the COA findings that P1.035 billion worth of priority development assistance fund allocations released to local government officials were spent for projects not specified in the special allotment release orders.

In certain instances, the local government units were found to have paid cash advances in excess of the allowable limit.

The COA also found that another P1.106 billion in pork barrel funds had not been returned to the National Treasury during audit, and were still under the control of local executives.

This was despite the Supreme Court ruling invalidating the pork barrel system, and stating that all remaining PDAF funds should be reverted to the general fund.

The audit agency likewise discovered that some P547.082 million in PDAF disbursement were not supported by sufficient documents.

Certain localities also implemented pork barrel-funded projects without public bidding, or went ahead with the bidding despite the Supreme Court ruling stopping the use of the funds.

The exposé on the alleged misuse of lawmakers’ PDAF funds in 2013 had triggered a massive public outcry and a Supreme Court petition to invalidate the pork barrel system.

The high court eventually declared the pork barrel unconstitutional, overturning its earlier decisions that had upheld the PDAF and its earlier incarnations.