GMA gave friends, NGOs huge financial help

Rep. Gloria Arroyo, during her term as president, gave out financial assistance to allies and non-government organizations (NGOs) but failed to liquidate such financial aid, the Commission on Audit (CoA) said, placing the amount at a little less than half a billion, or P447 million.

The CoA said 13 foundations and NGOs received the financial assistance despite the absence of required documents. The CoA also said the former President failed to liquidate P594 million.

Most of the recipients were from the second district of Pampanga where she ran as representative.

Among the recipients of the financial assistance were the ICTSI Foundation and the Philippine Good Work Foundation. The

2009 annual audit report for the Office of the President also showed that these foundations were given P100 million each despite the absence of supporting documents.

CoA said that the failure of former Malacañang officials to submit required documents violated national government audit rules and is against the objective of promoting transparency and accountability.

The former president also donated P7 million to the Pampanga Mayor’s League and P5 million for the Board Members League of Pampanga. The PML has no SEC (Security Exchange Commission) registration while the BMLP lacked disbursement vouchers.

The CoA report also showed that the former president gave out financial assistance to: Federation of Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, P70 million; ABS-CBN Foundation, P30 million; Philippine Bamboo Foundation, P25 million; Butil, P10 million; Unang Hakbang Foundation, P25 million; Gawin ang Tama Movement, P25 million; Resource Enhancement and Cooperation for Habitat, P10 million and Mateo Veinticinco Caritas Foundation, P10 million.

Before leaving Malacañang, the Arroyo administration claimed it had reduced the amount of unliquidated cash advances to P266,188,319.93 but the CoA said the unliquidated cash advances have reached P594,040,619.70 as of December, 2009.

The huge unliquidated cash advances of the former administration has prompted Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares to demand the filing of criminal charges against Arroyo and her Cabinet members.

Colmenares said the Office of the Ombudsman should go after Arroyo and members of her Cabinet for failing to justify some P405 million in cash advances.

Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code states that public officials who vacate their office are required to liquidate all public funds in their custody within two months after their separation from office by resignation or any other cause. Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune