In detention, GMA, Dimaporo spend P22 M

MANILA, Philippines – Taxpayers shelled out nearly P22 million in 2014 for the salaries and other expenses of detained former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo.

According to the Commission on Audit (COA) report on “amounts paid to and expenses incurred for each member of the House of Representatives,” Arroyo and her office received and spent a total of P10.809 million.

For Dimaporo, the House disbursed a total of P11.01 million.

Arroyo is detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on a plunder case in connection with the alleged diversion of more than P300 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office intelligence funds.

Dimaporo is held at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City on graft and malversation charges arising from his alleged misuse of fertilizer funds during the Arroyo administration.

The former president received P1,165,956 as basic salary, P629,126.41 for her district staff, P480,000 for representation expenses, P630,035.78 for local travel, P279,300 for communication and P1,274,134.28 as public affairs fund.

In addition, her office spent P1.3 million for consultants, nearly P3 million for staff salaries, P171,403.57 for supplies and P1.920 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

Dimaporo received P1,165,956 as basic salary, P781,164.33 for his district employees, P480,000 for representation, P979,082.01 for local travel, P187,507 for communication and P1,185,200 as public affairs fund.

His office spent an additional P1,271,780 for consultants, P162,094.70 for supplies, P2,948,185.75 for staff salaries and P1.920 million for MOOE.

The expenses attributed to Arroyo and Dimaporo pale in comparison with those incurred by three detained senators.

Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. spent a total of P68,126,298.80, P67,480,261.69 and P67,000,212.20, respectively.

The three are facing plunder and graft charges in connection with the alleged misuse of more than P1 billion in their pork barrel funds.