Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday continued his attacks against Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile by challenging the Commission on Audit (COA) to make public all certifications issued for the disbursement of funds from Senate’s P2 billion budget.
“As I said, buo ang tiwala ko sa COA. Bakit kasi hindi ilabas ng COA kung paano nili-liquidate ng Senate President itong P250,000. Pangalawa, tutal inilabas na naman ng COA by certification, magkano sa P2 billion budget ng Senado ang by certification?” Cayetano said in a press conference.
Cayetano further said that public funds are public records, so COA should divulged all records pertinent to the disbursement of P2 billion Senate’s budget since it was stated by Enrile on his privilege speech that the law allowed Congress to issue certification on its expenditures.
“Sabi natin ang pera ay public record. Inilabas din. Di ba nilabas din niya yung certification,” he said.
He also cited the comment made by Enrile on the certifications used by the defense panel in the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona to justify the disbursement of its funds, which was thoroughly questioned by the senate president at that time.
Ïf COA wanted to come-up with a sport report or a preliminary report on the controversial certification for the disbursement of Senate funds, there would be no tussles among lawmakers,” Cayetano said.
Cayetano added that there will be no legal impediments if COA would allow a people’s audit or private audit since it was done before in other offices of the government.