THE difficulty of personally handling confidential-fund disbursements cannot excuse a designated government officer from transferring the job and the cash to someone who was never authorized to perform that responsibility.⠀
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union made the argument after a senator-judge raised whether it was practical for one Special Disbursing Officer to handle large-scale operations.⠀
“Well, matagal na siya sa trabaho na yan. 2000s pa alam nya kung ano ang trabaho nya at alam nya kung anong mandato ng trabaho nya,” Ortega said.⠀
“Saka pinasok nya at alam nya yung tamang paraan, tamang proseso dapat. Pero kung magra-arason lang sila sa burden o sa hirap ng trabaho, ba’t mo pa tinanggap yung trabaho kung hindi mo kayang gampanan?” he added.⠀
The issue arose from testimony that confidential-fund cash advances were turned over by designated disbursing officers to security personnel who subsequently handled the money despite the restrictions under Joint Circular No. 2015-01.⠀
“So it’s well within their duties as a government official,” Ortega said.⠀
The joint circular specifically directs the SDO to disburse confidential and intelligence funds, maintain transaction records and submit the required liquidation documents for audit.⠀
Ortega said transferring the funds added another layer between the accountable officer and the actual expenditure, making it more difficult to trace how the money was ultimately handled.⠀
“Ayun nga, ginawa na nila yun e. Actually dinoble handling na nila, ipinasa na nila yung trabaho,” Ortega said.⠀“Ayan ngayon wala lahat sila alam kung saan nangyari, kung saan napunta yung mga pondo na yan. Nagkaletse-letse na yung mga confidential funds na yan ni hindi pa natin alam kung saan napunta,” he added.⠀
The prosecution has argued that the disputed handoffs are central to Article I because the rules were designed precisely to preserve a clear chain of custody and accountability over confidential cash.⠀“So sabi ko na nga, sinunod yung proseso, ginawa yung trabaho, ginawa yung tamang liquidation, hindi tayo aabot sa ganito,” Ortega said.
metrosundaily
