Audit team to probe Albay’s P700-M scholarship fund

MANILA, Philippines - An anti-crime group has formed a citizen audit team that will examine and open the books of the P700-million scholarship fund of the province of Albay.

The Citizens Crime Watch (CCW) said on Sunday it would determine the total amount spent for the scholarship program of the Albay Higher Education Contributing System (AHECS) and see if the provincial government properly spent the money.

CCW secretary general Carlo Magno Batalla said the team will be headed by former Albay judge Amado Calderon, with three others as members.

Batalla said lawyer Pete Principe, president of Philippine Trial Lawyers Association, will serve as the committee’s legal consultant.

CCW-Bicol chairman Diego Magpantay earlier questioned the use of the fund as many supposed beneficiaries were not covered by the scholarship program.

“The CCW is seeking an inquiry into the program to check if any provision of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act had been violated in the implementation of the AHECS,” Batalla said.

Albay provincial administrator Eriberto Lero Berses III said the provincial government is not objecting to any investigation of the fund, as “they have nothing to hide.”

“In the interest of good governance, transparency and public disclosure policy to which Albay Gov. Joey Salceda adheres, we are not opposing any inquiry into the program,” Berses said in a letter to CCW chairman Jose  Malvar Villegas Jr.