The pilot thickens on the alleged anomalous P1.1-billion fund transfer between the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
This, after whistleblower and Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza learned about more reasons to assail the inter-agency fund transfer.
Dismissed legal opinions, rushed fund transfers, an anomalous bidding process, and a case of possible technical malversation were flagged during the joint meeting Tuesday, Dec. 6 of the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability and on Information and Communications Technology.
In the meeting, Daza, a House senior deputy minority leader, revealed that the DICT’s own legal affairs office had issued "misgivings" on its agreement with the MMDA.
The legal opinion from DICT’s Office of Assistant Secretary to Legal Affairs (OASLA) stated that the agreement was ultra vires, or an act beyond what the law allows, Daza cited. However, this observation was apparently brushed aside.
He also noted how quickly the checks for the fund transfer were released--in as short as one day--after the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two agencies were signed.
“Let me note that if you look at the haste of the way this was done, it’s not just questionable, in my personal opinion, illegal,” reckoned Daza, who first called attention to the fund transfers in a privilege speech last Nov. 23 at the House of Representatives.
YOU NEED TO READ THIS:
https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/24/whats-up-with-suspicious-multi-billion-peso-fund-transfers-between-dict-and-mmda/
Several members of the committees weighed in as well, pointing out possible lapses in the legality of the fund transfer and the MMDA’s bidding process for the “NCR Fiber Optic Backbone Project” that found only a sole bidder.
“I’m truly grateful to my colleagues and fellow lawmakers that showed up today at our preliminary meeting, led by our chairpersons Cong. Toby Tiangco and Cong. Rida Robes,” the Visayan said.
“The only outcome we’re hoping for is a concrete resolution on this issue, so we may finally successfully execute the long-overdue Free Public Wi-Fi Program, and the House’s mandate on the sound management of every taxpayer’s money," he added.