Handa akong mag-resign kung fake news ang COA report – Rep. Defensor

Ni NOEL ABUEL

Handang mag-resign si Anakalusugan party list Rep. Mike Defensor sakaling “fake news” ang inilabas na ulat ng Commission on Audit (COA) na kuwestiyunable ang pandemic food pack procurements na ginawa ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Quezon City.

Ito ang sinabi ni Defensor kung saan pinaninindigan aniya nito ang pahayag nitong may nakitang kakaiba ang COA sa paggamit ng lokal na pamahalaan sa P479 milyon na ibinigay ng national government noong 2020 bilang Covid-19 pandemic financial assistance.

“If Mayor Joy Belmonte can prove that it is fake news, then I am willing to resign as a member of Congress. If she cannot, then she should resign,” sabi ni Defensor.

Hinamon pa nito ang mga residente ng Quezon City at ng sinuman na bisitahin ang COA website na (coa.gov.ph, then click annual reports, 2020, local government units, national capital region, Quezon City) para tingnan ang kabuuang ulat.

“You can check for yourself who is lying,” sabi nito.

Sinabi ni Defensor na nakahanda itong ilabas ang ilang mahahalagang bahagi ng dokumento sa pahayagan na iniulat na ibinenta ng pamiya Belmonte sa PLDT Group ngunit patuloy aniyang ginagamit ng mga ito para gamitin laban sa kanya.

Nakasaad aniya sa nasabing report ang mga katagang: “Payments for relief goods totaling P479.120 million sourced from Bayanihan grant to cities and municipalities were not supported with complete documentation contrary to Section 4 (6) of Presidential Decree No. 1445, and Item No. 3.6 of Government Procurement Policy Board Circular No. 01-2020 dated April 6, 2020.”

“Likewise, the posting and reporting requirements under Item Nos. 4.1 and 4.4 of Local Budget Circular No. 125 dated April 7, 2020, were not complied with. Thus, the validity and regularity of the transactions cannot be ascertained,” ayon pa sa COA report.

Nakasaad pa aniya sa report ng COA na sa P479 milyon, gumastos ang city government ng P385 milyon sa food packs, P84.7 milyon sa bigas at plastic bags, at P9.4 milyon sa noodles.

Natukoy ng state auditors ang apat na dokumento na may kakulangan kabilang ang updated procurement plan; proof of online posting of notice of award, contract or purchase order, copy of notice sa Department of Budget and Management, House of Representatives and Senate; at detalye na tinanggap ng mga benepisyaryo ng food aid.