A PARTY-LIST solon on Sunday urged the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the alleged ₱2.697-billion confidential funds of Davao City for the past six years.
In a statement, Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said “This would mean ₱1.235 million a day of secret spending for six years, this is way bigger than even the richest cities in the country like Makati City and Quezon City.
Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01 of the COA and the Department of Budget Management, the total amount for confidential funds of a local government unit should not exceed 30% of its total annual amount allocated for its Peace and Order and Public funds.
Additional confidential funds are possible upon the approval of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the joint circular further read.
Castro, who is also the House Deputy Minority leader, said the COA should investigate if the alleged spending of the local government is under Joint Circular No. 2015-01
“If it is proven otherwise, the money should be returned and legal action should be taken,” she said.
“The Filipino people deserve to know how their hard-earned money is being spent,” she added. “We must hold our public officials accountable and ensure that transparency and integrity prevail in our governance.”
