Jinggoy cites COA reports to question CCT

After criticizing the Commission on Audit (COA) for its report on the pork barrel scam, Sen Jinggoy Estrada cited the agency’s findings to turn the tables on the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Estrada used COA’s findings on alleged irregularities to question the effectiveness of the administration’s flagship poverty alleviation program. During Senate deliberations on the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Estrada asked Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto if the non-government organizations (NGOs) the DSWD can tap to monitor the program are legitimate. Recto answered, “I would assume they are legitimate. I’ve read the COA report. There might be other Napoles-type NGOs but not in the DSWD.” Recto was referring to Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam who allegedly connived with lawmakers – Estrada included – to siphon discretionary funds. The two face plunder complaints along with 36 others.

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