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Return P10M pork – COA to Bongbong Marcos
MANILA – The Commission on Audit (COA) is now asking Senator Bongbong Marcos to return the P10 million pork barrel fund channeled by the senator through a foundation headed by pork barrel scam whistle-blower, Benhur Luy.
The commission disapproved Marcos’ channeling of funds to a livelihood project in Nakar town, Quezon province labeling it as “illegal and irregular.”
COA audit team leader Romeo B. Limara and supervising auditor Wilhelmina R.
Cabuhat to Nakar Mayor Leovegildo R. Ruzol issued a notice of disallowance dated June 30, asking the senator to return the fund.
Marcos has drawn the money from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which was later transferred to Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation Inc. (SDPFFI) managed by Luy.
The fund was used to implement a project they called “organic farming for high value crops.”
Records from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) website also indicated that the P10-million allocation was a part of the senator’s P65 million allocations earmarked for towns in his 2012 PDAF.
Luy’s SDPFFI is one of the bogus foundations linked to Janet Lim-Napoles, who is now detained for allegedly heading the pork barrel scam.
The COA, however declared SDPFFI to be “bogus” adding that it has a questionable physical and legal existence.
It could be noted that Marcos has earlier denied any involvement in the pork barrel scam of the alleged mastermind, Janet Lim-Napoles.
“I have never met Janet Napoles.
We’ve never been together. I have never spoken to her. I have no dealings with her. I have not been to a party with her; there’s no picture [of me] with her,” Marcos was quoted saying in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.
Chris V. Beltrano
April 13, 2015 at 6:27 PM
mana sa ama