A House panel on Monday, March 17, called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a fraud audit on the questionable use of P6.4 billion worth of government funds by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao's (BARMM).

This came as officials from the region failed to attend a House hearing into the regional government's release of funds to supposedly favored barangays.

House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Adiong made the call after pointing out that under COA's internal auditing policies, it is responsible for auditing funds exceeding P50 million.

He said that its national office, under its policy, should now be involved in the scrutiny of BARMM's use of the fund.

He then moved for the committee to formally request COA to initiate a fraud audit. The motion was carried by House Public Accounts Committee Chair and Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano.

“Maybe it's that we invite the attention of the COA central to conduct the necessary auditing procedures that they would tend to do to assess, monitor the utilization of the P6.4 billion Local Government Support Fund in the BARMM," Adiong said.

BARMM officials' absence

Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman questioned the absence of BARMM officials in the hearing despite the issue's urgency.

Paduano said that the BARMM representatives had sent an excuse letter, citing Ramadan as the reason for their absence.

“The BARMM officials sent us an excuse letter because of Ramadan…and we considered it a valid reason,” Paduano explained.

Hataman, however, pointed out that fasting should not be a reason to avoid official duties.

"Just for the record, Mr. Chair, gusto ko lang sabihin na kami rin ho, nagfa-fasting (I just want to say that even us here are fasting)," Hataman said.

"Pero wala hong batas even sa aming relihiyon na nagsasabing kung nagfa-fasting ka di mo pwedeng gawin kung ano yung mandato mo sa buhay mo at ang mga obligasyon mo sayong panunungkulan (But there's no law in our religion that says you cannot fast while performing your responsibility as a government official)," he added.

Hataman also noted that BARMM officials previously invoked the region's autonomy to avoid legislative inquiries. But they've now shifted to Ramadan as an excuse for non-appearance.

He warned that BARMM officials might once again invoke autonomy in future hearings to evade accountability.

“Kaya ko lang po nire-raise ‘yun, ngayon tinanggap natin dahil Ramadan na hindi sila pumunta. Yung point ko lang ho, baka mamaya next hearing natin i-invoke nila na wala tayong jurisdiction (The reason why I'm raising it is because they cited Ramadan as the reason why they did not attend. But I'm just concerned that maybe in the next hearing, they will invoke that we do not have jurisdiction over them)," he said.

Paduano said the constitutional mandate of the House to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation extends to the autonomous Muslim region.

He also says it's Congress that created BARMM, and that the legislature exercises oversight power over its creations.