MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas allocated P5 million to a non-government organization (NGO) when he was still a senator, the Commission on Audit (COA) said in its special report on lawmakers' pork barrel.
The COA report on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) covering the period 2007 to 2009 said Roxas poured P5 million of his pork barrel to the Kaloocan Assistance Council Inc. (KACI) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as the implementing agency.
The report said part of Roxas PDAF' allotment to KACI -- P58,000 -- was used for the NGO's operation or to grant financial/educational assistance or cash for work program assistance to its employees, based on the official's Special Allotment Release Order No. 07-05504.
Malacañang said KACI should explain to COA why it spent that part of Roxas' pork barrel as financial assitance to its employees.
Malacañang further defended its ally, saying KACI is not among those listed as bogus NGOs and those related to Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind.
"This is only a P5-million fund. I don't know why this is being made an issue," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Thursday.
He said Roxas is "very transparent" and willing to provide any document that would be requested from him.
"Any suggestion that Secretary Mar Roxas is involved in any scam is malicious," said Lacierda.
Roxas has also been criticized for allegedly providing "special" treatment to Napoles after she surrendered to Malacañang.
The official has denied such allegation, saying the government only wants to ensure the safety of Napoles, who cited supposed threats to her life.