DAVAO CITY – The recent findings of the Commission on Audit shows the government’s selectivity in prosecuting officials who were involved in the anomalous Disbursement Acceleration Program and Priority Development Assistance Fund contracts, a lawmaker said.
COA revealed that a total of P670 million in pork barrel funds for Muslim Filipinos were channeled to dubious nongovernment organizations after they were recommended by 49 administration allies from 2011 to 2013. The lawmakers included Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan II.
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luzviminda Ilagan today said the recent reports released by COA also bolsters calls for the total abolition of the pork barrel system in all its forms.
“Clearly, funds made available to lawmakers and government officials for disbursement at their own prerogative and almost random will leave so much room for abuse and corruption,” Ilagan said.
“We can only imagine the trillions of public funds that have been lost since the PDAF and the DAP were first implemented. The pork barrel system should have been abolished long ago,” said Ilagan.
Ilagan also said that with the new COA findings, the Department of Justice should now be working overtime so that appropriate cases may be filed.
“Secretary Leila De Lima has repeatedly been accused of being selective in pursuing cases. It is high time for the DOJ to prove critics wrong and start filing charges against those involved in dealings with bogus non-governmental organizations, whether or not these officials are known allies of the President or not,” Ilagan said.
