The Commission on Audit has asked the Senate to open its books for audit in connection with the realignment of its funds and use of maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
In an interview with reporters Monday, Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the accounts committee, said the letter will be discussed with the senators in a caucus.
“This will be taken up in the caucus...Senate can waive, ang aming participation or position sa concurrent resolution. Initially yan ang aming pinagkasunduan ni Senate President [Juan Ponce Enrile] at ito isasangguni sa members na whether as a collegial body iwe-waive namin yung kung ano ang nilalaman sa concurrent resolution or individually bahala kami mag-waive,” said Lacson.
At present, a mere certification is acceptable whenever Senate funds are liquidated, as authorized by a concurrent resolution by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Lacson said the COA, in its letter, “seek your assistance in making available to us at the soonest possible time all papers, documents, and information in your possession or care as chairman of the committee on accounts, particularly those on the augmentation and realignment of Senate funds.”
“Yan ang purpose nila, augmentation and realignment of Senate funds as well as the uses to which MOOE given to members of the Senate has been devoted,” the senator said.
He said COA is invoking that there is no justification under the Constitution that a mere certification is acceptable.
Issues on how the Senate is using its budget made headlines recently following the cash gifts and additional funds given by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile to senators perceived as his allies last December. The controversy hit a new level last Wednesday when Enrile and Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano traded barbs on the Senate floor.
Cayetano has called for a parallel audit of Senate finances by the COA and a private firm as well.
The senator said he specifically wants to know how the P250,000 so-called cash gift to the senators was liquidated by Enrile and whether around P500 million in Senate funds is really just liquidated by certification. — BM, GMA News
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