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Lapid steers clear of controversy involving his 'pork barrel'
(Updated 4:42 p.m.) Senator Lito Lapid on Friday steered clear of the controversy involving the alleged use of his "pork barrel" fund to buy anti-dengue chemicals for a town in Quezon province that has no incidents of dengue.
In a statement, Lapid said the recipients of his Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) are the ones who take charge of the procurement process, which he pointed out are governed by accounting and auditing rules.
“Kailangan maliwanagan ang taumbayan na ang mga Senador na tulad ko ay wala namang ibang pwedeng paglalagakan ng pondo niya kundi 'yung mga pamahalaang bayan o panlalawigan at ahensya ng pamahalaan na pinapayagan ng batas na tumanggap ng pondo mula sa PDAF," Lapid said.
Earlier, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that some P5 million in Lapid's PDAF was used to buy "anti-dengue innoculants" in Polillo town in Quezon two years ago.
The town's health officer, Dr. Michael Caampued, however said in the newspaper report that no dengue cases were reported in the area in 2011.
Lapid said that he is confident that the Commission of Audit (COA) will determine if his PDAF was indeed misused.
“Kung meron mang iregularidad na nakikita ang iba sa paggamit ng mga pondong yan, alam naman natin na may Commission on Audit na bubusisi sa paggastos nyan," he said.
“Dapat natin tandaan na sangay din ng pamahalaan ang mga bayan na pinagdadalhan ng PDAF kaya saklaw din sila ng Procurement Law at ng audit ng COA," Lapid added.
Before the controversy on Lapid's PDAF, five other senators were identified by the Inquirer to have been linked to an alleged scam involving the use of the "pork barrel" to fund ghost projects worth P10 billion. They are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Gregorio Honasan II.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman are currently investigating the supposed "pork barrel" scam. — Andreo C. Calonzo and Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMA News
In a statement, Lapid said the recipients of his Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) are the ones who take charge of the procurement process, which he pointed out are governed by accounting and auditing rules.
“Kailangan maliwanagan ang taumbayan na ang mga Senador na tulad ko ay wala namang ibang pwedeng paglalagakan ng pondo niya kundi 'yung mga pamahalaang bayan o panlalawigan at ahensya ng pamahalaan na pinapayagan ng batas na tumanggap ng pondo mula sa PDAF," Lapid said.
Also on Friday, Malacañang distanced itself from the alleged pork barrel scam involving Lapid.
"I would have to defer comment on that. The NBI is conducting an investigation on that very matter and as such, it would be prudent for us to defer comment until such time that the NBI releases the results.," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press.
Earlier, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that some P5 million in Lapid's PDAF was used to buy "anti-dengue innoculants" in Polillo town in Quezon two years ago.
The town's health officer, Dr. Michael Caampued, however said in the newspaper report that no dengue cases were reported in the area in 2011.
Lapid said that he is confident that the Commission of Audit (COA) will determine if his PDAF was indeed misused.
“Kung meron mang iregularidad na nakikita ang iba sa paggamit ng mga pondong yan, alam naman natin na may Commission on Audit na bubusisi sa paggastos nyan," he said.
“Dapat natin tandaan na sangay din ng pamahalaan ang mga bayan na pinagdadalhan ng PDAF kaya saklaw din sila ng Procurement Law at ng audit ng COA," Lapid added.
Before the controversy on Lapid's PDAF, five other senators were identified by the Inquirer to have been linked to an alleged scam involving the use of the "pork barrel" to fund ghost projects worth P10 billion. They are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Gregorio Honasan II.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Office of the Ombudsman are currently investigating the supposed "pork barrel" scam. — Andreo C. Calonzo and Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMA News
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