VOL. XXX NO. 37 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIday : MaRCH 18, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Church, PPCRV clash anew
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aCCount foR P7-b fund, RoxaS told By Christine F. Herrera and Vito Barcelo
THE opposition United Nationalist Alliance demanded that administration standard bearer Manuel Roxas II account for P7 billion in unliquidated fund transfers, including cash advances for foreign travel and typhoon rehabilitation funds that were incurred while he was Interior and Local Government secretary.
Citing a 2014 Commission on Audit report, UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said the fund transfers also covered projects such as the Provision of Potable Water program (Salintubig), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana), Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB), Rehabilitation Assistance on Yolanda (RAY), and the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP). “This is an indication that the
DILG failed to monitor the implementation of the projects,” Ilagan said, quoting the CoA report. “The receivables accounts accumulated to a huge amount of P7.040 billion because management failed to monitor the liquidations of the fund transfers and submission of the corresponding financial reports contrary to CoA Circular No. 94-013,” the audit agency said in its report.
Aside from the unliquidated fund transfers, the same report revealed that some P17 million in cash advances also remain unliquidated, Ilagan said. In its 2013 annual financial report, CoA said the DILG under Roxas accrued P1.1 billion in unliquidated cash advances “granted for local and foreign travels and for special purpose/time-bound undertakings.” Next page
Oral arguments. The Supreme Court’s justices on Wednesday started the oral arguments on the petition of former senator Richard Gordon asking the Commission on Elections to implement the giving of vote receipts in this year’s elections. Danny Pata
Santiago to miss debate in Cebu
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It’s final, SC tells Comelec: Give receipts By Rey E. Requejo and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a plea from the Commission on Elections to reverse its decision compelling the poll agency to issue printed receipts from 92,000 vote counting machines that will be used
during the May 9 elections. Court spokesman Theodore Te said the justices denied the Comelec’s motion for reconsideration after Solicitor General Florin Hilbay argued the poll agency’s case against activating the voter verified paper audit trail feature on the machines, saying it could lead to a failed election.
The Court ruled last week in favor of a petition filed by former senator Richard Gordon to compel the Comelec to issue printed receipts in line with the Automated Election Law. Te said 12 justices voted to dismiss the Comelec appeal. Senior Associate Justice Antonio Next page