In Negros Occidental: COA probes PDAF released to 32 LGUs

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) in Negros Occidental is now checking for possible irregularities on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) released to the province's 32 local government units.

Arnel Jaranilla, COA supervising auditor for northern Negros Occidental, said Wednesday the COA head office has ordered his office to submit a report on PDAF received by 13 towns and 19 cities in the province.

"We're digging deeper if there are any discrepancies," Jaranilla said, adding that they were ordered to submit the report to the hearing of the Senate's blue ribbon committee.

Jaranilla refused to divulge the details of their ongoing probe on PDAF, saying he has no authority to do so. However, he explained that the ongoing audit is separate from the COA Special Audit Report on the projects of congressmen released through allegedly bogus non-government organizations.

In the said COA special report, three congressmen of Negros Occidental allegedly released part of their PDAF to bogus NGOs. The three were the late Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo (5th district), former Rep. Jose Carlos "Kako" Lacson (3rd dist.) and re-elected Rep. Jules Ledesma IV (1st dist.).

In a report of www.philstar.com Wednesday, Ledesma was listed as the sole congressman from Negros Occidental belonging to the list of lawmakers with excessive 'pork' from 2007-2009.

Last week, the internal audit team of the Department of Agriculture went to the Ledesma's district to investigate on the reported misuse of his PDAF.

Ledesma and Lacson could not be reached for comment yesterday. (FREEMAN)