“I am quietly investigating, rest assured that I’m not just doing nothing,” Belmonte told reporters Wednesday. “I am actually very interested in what’s going on but I also don’t want to prejudice the investigation by in effect not keeping the confidences of the NBI.”
The Commission on Audit defines a SARO as a “specific authority issued to one or more identified agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated.”
Under control
At least four lawmakers have already been dragged into the issue. Belmonte said he has full confidence in the investigation of the NBI, which has so far summoned several personalities, including staff members of lawmakers, to its probe.
“The NBI has had it under control and as I said, so far we are a small portion of this whole thing but rest assured that we will get to the bottom of it here in the House,” Belmonte said.
A fake SARO for a P161-million farm-to-market road in Cagayan was brought to the NBI office last Friday by a staff member of Cagayan Rep. Baby Alfonso Vargas. Based on an investigation conducted by Belmonte’s office, the fake SARO was given to Vargas’ chief of staff Bong Pelonio.
Earlier, a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras” traced a fake SARO to a Department of Budget and Management (DBM) insider identified only as “Supremo.”
On Wednesday, Belmonte said at least 12 SARO’s amounting to some P800 million are being investigated. But he clarified that congressmen as of now remain “victims” in the alleged scam.
“Twelve SAROs [are] being investigated, P800-million something. Wala silang iniimbistigahan na congressmen who I’m very certain, perhaps are potential victims themselves. They’re trying to get the statement of the staff,” he said.
Belmonte noted that while fake SAROs don’t necessarily correspond to release funds, they can be sold by scheming insiders to contractors who want to make a quick buck.
“They’re still unreleased in the DBM. Pero pwede kasing ibenta sa mga kontratista,” he said.
Syndicate
Meanwhile, members of the minority bloc in the House have linked the alleged scam to a “syndicate.”
“Tingin ko may syndicate iyan kasi complicated, sophisticated iyong system. Ibig sabihin niyan may connect ka sa ang sindikato who could be from outside naman,” Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares said at a press conference.
Members of the syndicate may be connected to the DBM or to House committees, he added.
ACT-Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio agreed with Colmenares, saying to know how the syndicate operates, investigators must first locate the head of the group.
“Definitely may syndicate. May conspiracy involving several government agencies sa DBM and apparently dito sa House, sa mga opisina ng mga kongresista. Ang tanong dito, sino iyong pinuno? Yun ang hindi pa nasasagot sa ngayon,” he said.
For his part, Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco said he wants to get to the bottom of the story as well, highlighting the point that the lawmakers are the victims in the alleged scam.
“Let me state for the record we are the victims here. We are not the perpetrators. As reported in a major newspaper, we have requested the NBI to conduct an investigation on this matter. I join my colleagues in their quest to get at the bottom of this incident and to expose any syndicate that peddles the fake SAROs,” he said. — KBK, GMA News
