Letter from Budget Secretary Abad

Ms Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc

Editor in Chief

Philippine Daily Inquirer

1098 Chino Roces cor. Mascardo Sts.

Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City

Dear Ms Jimenez-Magsanoc,

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad: No such fund release. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

We decided to hold the issuance of these Saros after the Region II – Field Unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA) informed us that they received a photocopy of a signed Saro for the implementation of a farm-to-market road project in the region, inquiring as well whether the original Saro had already been issued. Upon checking our records, however, we discovered that the Saro copy sent to the DA Region II – Field Unit was a forgery, as the original document in the DBM Central Office had yet to be signed and released.

It was this discovery that prompted my office to write to the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Oct. 23, a day after the DA Region II – Field Unit alerted us to the copy of the counterfeit Saro. We then requested an immediate inquiry on this specific incident, which resulted in the official probe that Mr. Cabacungan covered in his report.

The sensitive nature of the investigation compelled us to request Mr. Cabacungan to hold the publication of this story when he sought our comment on the issue. While we have the highest appreciation of and respect for the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a source of information on current affairs for the general public, we believe as well that publicizing the ongoing investigation through mainstream media may stunt or jeopardize the progress of the NBI’s probe on the matter. For while Mr. Cabacungan’s piece may have served the public’s immediate interest to be informed of the existence of such an investigation, it may likewise have presented an opportunity for those involved in these irregularities to elude accountability.

Consistent with the Aquino administration’s good governance agenda, we in the Department of Budget and Management will not countenance any attempt at concealing the truth from the Filipino people. We also trust that the NBI will proceed unimpeded in its investigation, so that the individuals or groups involved in these irregularities will be held answerable to the Filipino people as befits them.

We humbly request the Philippine Daily Inquirer to publish this letter in full for the benefit of its readers. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Florencio B. Abad

Secretary

Department of Budget and Management