Pangilinan vows probe of 'ghost' P7.5-B DA budget

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Pangilinan yesterday promised to file a resolution calling for an investigation into the supposed misuse of the P7.5-billion budget provided to the Department of Agriculture for the construction of farm-to-market roads.

“If found true that no farm-to-market road was constructed when this amount was released from January to June 2010, then those responsible for this anomaly must be held accountable and must explain themselves to those who toil their farms relentlessly yet remain below the poverty line,” he said.

He also cited reports by the Commission on Audit (COA) that the funds were spent mostly to purchase gas from service stations owned by the Ampatuan clan in Maguin­danao, known allies of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“This is plunder. Our people were deprived of the opportunity to improve their lives with the help of these much-needed roads,” Pangilinan said.

Senate finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon said the oversight committee on public expenditures which he heads, had discovered misuse of the funds.

“We are investigating that now in the oversight committee. We have not yet come to any conclusion. What we just have is our initial finding that a good portion of this could not be accounted for,” Drilon said.