Senate to open books for COA scrutiny

MANILA, Philippines -- The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the Senate to open its books for an extensive review of its expenses from 2010 to 2012.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said COA chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido Tan "accepted the challenge by some senators to open the books for extensive audit."

Lacson said he and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile decided to take up COA's letter in a caucus after the roll call of the 3 p.m. session on Monday.

Lacson said he had already asked Enrile's permission  to order the Senate accounting department to prepare all the documents,  specifically the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), of the Senate from 2010 to 2012.

"Initially, they are ready to release 2010, 2011 and 2012 records,” Lacson told the media.

Lacson said the audit will include the review of additional P1.6 million MOOE given to every senator except to four – Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago, Pia Cayetao, Antonio Trillanes IV and minority leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

He said the COA's audit will initially cover 2010 to 2012 because it covered the period when a concurrent resolution allowing the submission of a mere certificate to liquidate funds was in effect.

Lacson admitted he proposed the passage of the concurrent resolution in August of 2011 in his capacity as chairman of the Senate committee on accounts.

However, Lacson said it was the House of Representatives which prepared the concurrent resolution “because the House encountered problems with its resident auditor then.”

While the Senate accounting department has been ordered to prepare for audit, Lacson said it would still be up to the individual senator to comply with COA’s mandate to check funds used by the Senate.

Lacson said the COA chief has opposed the suggestion of parallel audit with a private auditing firm.

The Senate and the House have adopted resolutions in 2011 and 2012 that effectively barred the COA from a thorough review of how the legislative chambers use their funds.