Andaya cites need for oversight duty on fund disbursement

MANILA -- House of Representatives Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Tuesday stressed the need for Congress to exercise its oversight function over the disbursement of government funds in light of the so-called “pork parking scheme” in the budget allocations.

In a statement, Andaya said the House would still pursue its investigation on the alleged anomalous allocations in the proposed 2019 national budget regardless of whether or not Cabinet members appear at the hearing on January 3.

It was earlier reported that Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who is at the center of controversies surrounding the 2019 budget and previous years’ appropriations, was not allowed to attend the congressional inquiry.

“Definitely, we will task the DBM for these questionable allocations. We will not stop in our investigation, whether Cabinet members appear or not in our hearings,” Andaya said.

He said the House would zero in on flood mitigation projects, where the questionable allocations are "parked".

“Mukhang dito itinatago ang mga (I think this is where they hide the) 'parked funds' for those involved in the scam. Kaya pala pinalobo ng DBM ang pondo sa flood mitigation projects from 2017 to 2018. Halos PHP54 billion ang itinaas na pondo pero tuloy pa rin ang pagbaha sa mga kabayanan (That’s probably the reason why DBM increased the funds for flood mitigation projects from 2017 to 2018. It saw an increase of PHP54 billion, but areas continue to be flooded),” Andaya said.

He said more “whistleblowers” are coming out in the open regarding the “parking scam”, noting that insiders within DBM provided information related to “questionable budget allocations in the Bicol region.”

“These DBM insiders intimated to me that under the leadership of Secretary Diokno, billions of projects in Sorsogon for 2018 started to be bid out as early November 2017. The bidding took place even as Congress was still deliberating on the 2018 budget submitted by the DBM,” Andaya said.

Andaya accused Diokno of allegedly using his influence to approve PHP10-billion worth of road and flood control projects in Casiguran and Sorsogon as a favor to his daughter, who is married to the son of Casiguran Mayor Edwin Hamor and Sorsogon Vice Governor Esther Hamor.

Diokno’s in-laws are running for public office in the 2019 elections.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Diokno still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President after the House adopted Resolution No. 2365, urging the chief executive to reconsider the budget chief’s appointment.

Diokno was accused of being responsible for the alleged PHP75-billion worth of “insertions” contained in the PHP3.757-trillion proposed national budget for 2019 without the President’s consent.

He was accused of having links to CT Leoncio Construction and Trading, a contractor that bagged billions of pesos in government projects, an allegation which he denied.

Panelo also said at least eight Cabinet members threw their support and slammed the House members for their display of “disrespect and utter lack of courtesy” toward Diokno during the recent Question Hour.

“To use the congressional process to bombard Sec. Diokno with pre-considered questions and answers in aid – not of legislation – but of persecution and excoriating him with baseless allegations is a mockery of standard democratic procedures,” they said in a letter submitted to the President. (PNA)