Vizcaya lawmaker says he initiated COA probe on ‘ghost’ projects

MANILA, Philippines - Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla said yesterday that he was the one who initiated the Commission on Audit (COA) inquiry into supposedly “ghost” projects funded through his pork barrel.

Clarifying a report in The STAR, Padilla said he had written COA Assistant Commissioner Arcadio Cuenco Jr. as early as Aug. 2, 2011 to conduct the audit when he received information about the alleged misuse of his pork barrel fund.

He said Cuenco informed him a few days later that auditors would examine the use of portions of his fund, which he allocated to several towns for livelihood projects.

He said he told the COA official that charges should be filed against all those responsible for the irregularity.

Padilla is seeking re-election as representative of the lone congressional district of Nueva Vizcaya.

Some town mayors have reportedly told auditors that they were not aware of any livelihood project funded by their congressman’s pork barrel.

In areas where such projects were undertaken, local officials said the participants were not their constituents.