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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Special audit eyed for funds allocated to NTF-ELCAC

Special audit eyed for funds allocated to NTF-ELCAC

Published Sep 17, 2020 09:47 pm

The Commission on Audit (COA)  assured the House of Representatives that it is studying the possibility of conducting a special audit of government funds allocated to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

During a budget hearing on Wednesday, COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo assured lawmakers that funds contributed by various government agencies for the operation of NTF-ELCAC will be subjected to regular audit.

“We are looking into it, kung kelangan ng special audit (if special audit is needed),” Aguinaldo said in response to interpellation by Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate.

The state auditor noted that the fund allocation granted to NTF-ELCAC is “quite big.”

“This is quite big (funds given to NTF-ELCAC)...we have to look at it carefully because the amount involved is not typical," Aguinaldo admitted.

Zarate claimed that for 2020, the task force created by President Duterte received P36.34 billion fund coming from various agencies of the government.

"The NTF-ELCAC, being an Executive-created body, must be transparent and accountable to Congress and to the people for the public funds that they are given for their operations. It seems though that it is not the case,” he said.

For its 2021 operations, the anti-communist task force is getting P16.44 billion for its Barangay Development Programs.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon assured lawmakers that the task force’s activities will be conducted “within the bound” allowed by law.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also defended next year’s allocation for the anti-insurgency of government calling it a “valid expenditure.”

During interpellation, Aguinaldo said he has nothing to object about in the creation of the task force, saying this is “not unusual.”

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