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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House panel to look into Pampanga town's alleged procurement irregularities

House panel to look into Pampanga town's alleged procurement irregularities

Published Jul 25, 2023 07:09 am
House of Representatives (MANILA BULLETIN)




The House Committee on Public Accounts will launch an investigation Wednesday, July 26 on the alleged irregularities in the procurement process and unlawful contracts entered into by the Municipality of Mexico, Pampanga over 15 years ago. The public accounts panel is chaired by ABANG LINGKOD Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano. The probe stems from a series of allegations submitted through sworn affidavits by Mr. Ernesto Punzalan, a former mayor of Mexico town. Punzalan's complaints have to do with the purported anomalous processing of procurement and contracts by the municipality from 2007 to mid-2010, as well as a loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) totaling P950 million. The Commission on Audit (COA) previously initiated a special audit leading to Fraud Audit Investigation Office (FAIO) Report No.2012-010, which revealed a series of irregular projects and expenditures culminating in the accumulation of nearly P150 million. The complainant also raised concerns about the delay in the filing of charges against incumbent Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court. The House panel said it aims to determine the nature of liability related to the Office of the Ombudsman, COA, and the mayor. The probe, depending on its outcome, may also bring up the need to strengthen laws governing the Office of the Ombudsman, COA, and the local government code.

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