Senate majority agrees not to use 'pork' for now

 News
Aug 202013
 
Eighteen senators from the Senate majority bloc have agreed not to use their “pork barrel” funds for now until stricter guidelines are put in place on the release of these funds, Senate President Franklin Drilon said Tuesday.

In a statement, Drilon said this decision would be formalized during the next session in a resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate to cease from availing, accessing and utilizing their pork barrel funds.”

“The majority senators’ decision to adopt the resolution is a manifestation of their interest in making the use of the PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund] more transparent and open for scrutiny of the public that will help prevent the abuses and inadequacies which were observed in the Commission on Audit (COA) report,” he said.

Drilon was referring to a COA special audit report released last Friday stating that PDAF releases from 2007 to 2009 “were not efficiently monitored and tracked, if at all.”

The report bared that over P6 billion in PDAF went to questionable NGOs during the period covered by the audit. 

Drilon said that the majority senators agreed to let the Department of Budget and Management “promulgate stricter and more effective implementing guidelines on the release of the PDAF.”

“The government must institute stricter guidelines on the utilization of the PDAF to avoid  exposing substantial government funds to untoward risks and ensure that the PDAF is disbursed only in favor of specific and effective pro-poor programs of the government,” he said.

Each senator is entitled to P200 million in PDAF annually for projects within a “menu” specified by the DBM.

Among the members of the Senate majority are Senators Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., whose names are being dragged into alleged anomalies involving PDAF.

Other members of the Senate majority are Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senators Juan Edgardo Angara, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Pia Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Lito Lapid and Loren Legarda.

Senators Sergio Osmeña III, Grace Poe, Aquilino Pimentel III, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cynthia Villar are also aligned with the Senate majority.

On Monday, Senator Aquino already announced that he will not use his PDAF until charges are filed against persons involved in alleged anomalies that used pork barrel funds. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News

Unspent campaign contributions are taxable income if not returned to donor, says Comelec chairman

 News
Jun 142013
 
Unspent campaign contributions are taxable income if not returned to donor, says Comelec chairman

Candidates may keep whatever campaign contributions they have left after the recent polls, but they would have to pay income tax, poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. said. The taxable income is computed by deducting total expenses from contributions. “They can keep the money but that is income. That will be subjected to tax if they don’t return it to the donor,” said Brillantes on Friday, adding that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be assisted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. According to available statements of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE),  Nancy Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance earned the most income at P8,174,341.68. She is followed by independent candidate Ramon Montano with an income of P5,246,175.00.  Team PNoy’s Bam Aquino comes in at third with an income of P1,165,012.19, LP Coalition’s Chiz Escudero at P746,690.90, and UNA’s Jack Enrile – the senatorial bet with the most expenses – at  P396,838.09.  Surprise frontrunner Grace Poe of Team PNoy earned P156,346.41.  So far, those who spent more than their contributions are: Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Jun Magsaysay, Jamby Madrigal, Ricardo Penson, Ernesto Maceda, Christian Seneres, Baldomero Falcone, and Eddie Vilanueva. There are still no data available to the media for the rest of senatorial bets. According to Republic Act 7166, every candidate and treasurer of a political party shall be required to file an itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 days after Election Day. The deadline was on June 13, Read More …

Graft raps filed vs. Loren Legarda over misdeclared assets

 News
May 062013
 
Graft raps filed vs. Loren Legarda over misdeclared assets

Self-proclaimed “anti-corruption crusader” Louis Biraogo on Monday filed a complaint against re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda for allegedly misdeclaring her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The case was in connection with the posh residential condominium unit that Legarda bought in New York in 2006 for $700,000. “Eto po ay napaka-expensive, mahal na property, na hindi kaya ng ordinaryong tao dito sa ating bansa. Ito ay binili ni Sen. Loren Legarda noong 2006 sa halagang $700,000,” Biraogo said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” Legarda, who is running under the administration coalition, was accused of violating the anti-graft law and code of conduct and ethical standards of public officials, the report said. At a press briefing last week, Legarda said the property, which she said is family-owned, has been in her SALN since 2007 but declared as “Equity in Real Property.” The price of the unit as reflected in her SALN was $7.1 million, supposedly her share in purchasing the property. But in filing the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, Biraogo presented to the media the title for the condominum unit showing that Legarda is the sole owner of the property. “Eto yung titulo, at sa titulo po ang buyer ay si Sen. Loren Legarda. Walang nakalagay na kapatid nya o asawa nya,” he said. Legarda was among the senators who voted in favor of ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona last year for misdeclaring his SALN. Legarda, who continues to top surveys Read More …

PNoy backs Loren in NY condo unit issue

 News
May 062013
 
PNoy backs Loren in NY condo unit issue

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday attested to Senator Loren Legarda’s “long and credible record of advocacies” amid accusations that the senator did not declare a posh New York City condominium unit in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs). On Monday, Legarda’s office released to the media copies of Aquino’s statement expressing support for the senator. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda confirmed that the President issued the statement for Legarda, who is currently running for reelection under the administration slate. “Throughout this campaign, Loren Legarda has enjoyed the overwhelming support of voters, which is in keeping with her longstanding status as a member of the Senate and a public official. She has a long and credible record of advocacies, which is the foundation for her public support,” Aquino’s statement read. “I am confident that she is not only prepared, but will do her utmost best, to answer any and all allegations raised against her,” the President added. Last week, Legarda was found to own a condominum unit in New York worth $700,000. The senator’s SALNs did not categorically state that she owned this property, instead referring to “other investment,” without the specifics required by the Civil Service Commission. In response to the accusation, Legarda’s office said the condominium unit