Presidential help sought in ARMM fund release

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The newly-installed governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) asked Malacañang to look into a “grossly punitive" provision that withholds fund releases unless its previous budget is audited. In a letter addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received on Monday, ARMM Governor Ansaruddin Adiong sought “an audience anytime this week to bring out personally our grave concern before said flaw becomes irreversible." Special Provision No. 2 — which will take effect on February 27 — also deducts disbursements from the ARMM’s budget that have remained unliquidated, unaudited, or disallowed by the special audit team, Adiong’s spokesman said on Wednesday. Adiong took over the helm of the ARMM after the Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, his father, Andal Ampatuan Sr., the governor of Maguindanao province; and brothers and other clan members were arrested and jailed in connection to the massacre of 57 people, including at least 31 journalists on a political convoy, in Maguindanao province on November 23. The Ampatuans denied any involvement in the brutal killings that authorities said was politically motivated. Among those murdered were the wife and sister of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, a political for of the Ampatuan clan, who is running for governor in general elections in May. Because of the killings, Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao and ordered a special audit of all the fund disbursements to the previous ARMM leadership. The 24-member Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) in the ARMM and the five provincial governments under the Muslim autonomous region — Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur — have prepared separate manifestations protesting the budget provision, which they described as an affront to the wisdom of installing the Adiong regime purportedly to reform the regional governance, ARMM Bureau of Public Information Ali Macabalang said. President asked to veto budget provision RLA members are collectively opposed to such provision and also appealed to the President to veto it, he added. “At a time when ARMM needs to rebuild its image from accusations of graft, inefficiency and violence, the budget restriction will severely affect our efforts to implement strategic regional infrastructures and basic social services that, aside from improving the lot of our people, would prove that ARMM remains as a relevant, functional and beneficial politico-administrative unit," a draft of the RLA resolution said. This year's General Appropriations Act earmarks P9.2-billion budget for ARMM. The amount covers some 70 percent share for personnel services, 25 percent maintenance and operating expense funds and P850-million capital outlay, Macabalang said. ARMM Executive Secretary, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, also said the budget provision is unwarranted because there is no certainty in the length of period the audit on the Ampatuan administration's expenditures would be completed. “The ARMM's 2010 budget constitutes less than 1 percent of the national budget, but the new regional leadership has vowed to utilize it to the optimum benefit of its constituents under the principles on transparent, consultative and moral governance," he said. Unless timely vetoed by Arroyo, the budgetary law would do a "collective punishment" against all the workforces and constituents of the regional governance, Sinarimbo said. “While all well-meaning people of ARMM support the comprehensive audit on past fund releases and the prosecution of officials culpable of misdemeanors, we should not be held hostage to its proceedings and outcome," he said. Macabalang said the provincial governments of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are equally alarmed of the stringent budget provision because they stand to share P150-million each for vital infrastructure projects while the regional government would share only P100-million for similar undertakings. “Time is running out and the new ARMM leadership and the provincial governments under it will also be affected by this GAA provision," Macabalang said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV