‘OP under Arroyo fails to liquidate P594M cash advances’
September 23, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cash Advances
MANILA, Philippines- The Office of the President (OP) during the Arroyo administration has not liquidated P594 million in cash advances in 2009, according to a Commission on Audit (COA) report presented during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
Part of the amount went to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos local and foreign trips, which totaled P940.6 million during that year even if her travel budget is only P244.6 million.
This is the kind of impunity and abuse that was being committed insofar as the budget was concerned, Senate finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon said after a hearing on the proposed P2.5 billion budget of President Aquinos office.
Theres absolutely no respect for the appropriations done. They just spent whatever amount they felt was needed.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. told reporters the current administration is still verifying the COA report, and that certain people will be held liable once the validation is completed.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Teofisto Guingona III is also interested in investigating the matter.
In 2009, Guingona, who was still a congressman, revealed that Arroyo had spent P2.7 billion for her foreign trips since 2003, which is more than double the limit set by Congress.
Ang budget, batas yan, yet hindi nila sinusunod at dapat tingnan natin, he said.
Ochoa gave assurances it wont happen under the Aquino administration.
He said that as a matter of policy, the OP limits cash advances granted to any official, and the number of people included in President Aquinos trips.
As you can see, weve been very transparent about the foreign travels, Ochoa said, adding that they always disclose how much was spent for every trip.
President Aquinos recent trip to China, for instance, cost P25 million.
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