Prove Dumanjug gets most of P56M PDAF

CEBU, Philippines - Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia challenged acting Governor Agnes Magpale to prove that P55 million of the Priority Development Assistance Fund of his father, second district Rep. Pablo “Pabling” Garcia, is solely intended for his town.

Garcia issued the challenge after Magpale reportedly said that Dumanjug town is getting almost all of the P56.3 million pork barrel funds of Pabling.

“If she cannot prove, she should resign as acting governor, if she can prove, I will resign as mayor of Dumanjug,” Mayor Garcia said.

Mayor Garcia said that what Magpale is doing only shows her ignorance and she does not know what she is doing.

He said that all the 15 municipalities in the second district will get a share of the said funds but Magpale delayed the release of the checks.

Magpale said she is trying to beat the March 29 election ban to release the funds equitably to all the 15 towns.

“We will definitely find a solution to fast track the release,” Magpale said.

Magpale said that the Special Allotment Release Order does not have specific details as to the purpose of the funds.

She earlier said she is just being careful with the release of checks from the PDAF of Rep. Garcia deposited as trust fund of the Capitol.

The Department of Budget and Management clarified that the Cebu Provincial Government should be the one to supervise the disbursement of Garcia’s congressional funds since it was deposited under its account.

Garcia, as the proponent legislator, has the “authority to identify the beneficiaries as well as the priority development programs and projects to be charged against the PDAF.”

Magpale earlier said she suspected Dumanjug town was getting P55 million while other towns in the second district only got appropriations ranging from P20,000 to P500,000.

Rep. Garcia requested the Office of the Ombudsman to order Magpale to release the P56.3 million pork barrel funds he had kept in trust with the Capitol.

Garcia said that his PDAF went to the Capitol’s trust fund but with Magpale’s taking hold of the Provincial Government as acting governor, checks for the towns and barangays in his district were held.   (FREEMAN)