COA stands by its report on pork

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The Commission on Audit stands by its report 192 lawmakers misused 6.1 billion pesos in pork

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit stands by its report 192 lawmakers misused 6.1 billion pesos in pork.

This makes Janet Napoles just one of many, in a widespread practice that funnels public funds into the pockets of politicians and their conspirators.
Angela Casauay reports.

Script below: 

It’s one of the most comprehensive reports on the use of lawmakers’ development fund in recent history.
192 lawmakers misused at least P6.1 billion of their pork from 2007 to 2009. 
Yet days after its release, errors on the Commission on Audit report were spotted. 
The report shows former Compostela Valley representative Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora released P3 billion in development funds from 2007 to 2009.
It turned out to be “clerical error” on the part of the Department of Budget and Management, which attributed a Department of Public Works and Highways project in Compostela Valley to Zamora’s PDAF. 
President Benigno Aquino himself spotted another error – a “Luis Abalos” in the report turns out to be former Mandaluyong representative and now mayor Benhur Abalos.
But COA Chair Grace Pulido Tan points out what the DBM itself has already admitted — it’s not COA’s fault.

GRACE PULIDO TAN, COMMISSION ON AUDIT CHAIR: I think it only validates what we have also said in the report that the record-keeping, monitoring and tracking of DBM at that time at least was very very sloppy if I may use the term…kasi papaano ka magkakamali sa isang P3 billion na amount? (How will you commit a mistake on a P3 billion amount?) Both mistakes are clerical errors in both cases, the amount of releases stand.

COA maintains it tried its best to ensure the veracity of its report.

GRACE PULIDO TAN, COMMISSION ON AUDIT CHAIR: Should that erode confidence in our report, no I don’t think so because for one thing we went by documents and I think that’s what auditing is what about. And I think apart from these 3 errors, wala naman silang sinabi pa. (They didn’t say anything else.)

Budget Secretary Butch Abad apologized to Zamora for DBM’s clerical error. 
Tan also apologizes to Zamora but for something different.

GRACE PULIDO TAN, COMMISSION ON AUDIT CHAIR: I would apologize for the shock of his life that he received from the report. I think nagbunga rin positively because these things have been exposed. Yun nga lang at his expense so that’s the part where I really commiserate with him.

Despite the criticisms, Tan stands by the integrity of COA’s report.
She says they have the documents to prove it.
It’s now up to government to prosecute and the 192 lawmakers to explain.
Angela Casauay, Rappler.

– Rappler.com



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