COA asked to audit Arroyo’s Pampanga projects

A party-list lawmaker asked the Commission on Audit (COA) on Tuesday to do a special audit on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's projects in the second district of Pampanga, alleging that the President may have spent more than the P459 million in infrastructure projects previously reported. Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, who had earlier revealed that the President spent P459 million in 2009 for Pampanga’s 2nd district, submitted to the COA a letter requesting for a special audit on the President's projects. “She spent more than what was contained in the [Department of Public Works and Highways] documents. We don’t expect the government to voluntarily divulge the information, thus the request for a special audit," Hontiveros said in a statement. The party-list lawmaker said a P100-million bridge across the Porac-Gumain River, which Mrs. Arroyo inaugurated during her May 27, 2009 visit to the district, was not reflected in DPWH documents acquired by Akbayan. Citing "insiders," Hontiveros said the President also reportedly gave out checks for a total of P350,000 for livelihood projects. “How much did she really spend in District 2 of Pampanga? Is she pouring her discretionary funds for these projects? Kailangan malaman kung saan galing ang pera na ginagamit nya sa mga proyekto na ito (We must know the source of the funds that she used for these projects)," said Hontiveros, a senatorial candidate running on the Liberal Party slate. “We do not contest the necessity of these projects. The point is that when a sitting president vies for any position – whether it is the presidency or as barangay captain – the fight is no longer fair," added Hontiveros, who has filed a disqualification case against Mrs. Arroyo before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Hontiveros said the COA should grant the request for a special audit and release the report before the printing of the ballots and in time for the Comelec's decision. Pampanga’s 2nd district, which Mrs. Arroyo is seeking to represent in Congress, comprises six towns: Sta. Rita, Guagua, Sasmuan, Porac, Floridablanca and Lubao, the President’s hometown where allegedly most of the projects were built. She had filed her certificate of candidacy for a Lower House under the cloud of suspicion that she plans to use it as a platform for a political comeback. [See: Arroyo formalizes House bid in Pampanga] Her rivals for the post are private citizens Feliciano Serrano, Filipinas Rosario Sampang, and Adonis Simpao, who is the running under the banner of the Liberal Party. [See: Half-sis nixes request to challenge Arroyo's Congress bid] Malacañang officials earlier defended Mrs. Arroyo by saying her spending in Pampanga's second district was legal and beneficial to Pampangueños. [See: Nothing wrong in Arroyo's P459-million projects in Pampanga, Palace says] – JV, GMANews.TV