Feb 122014
 

Rep. Haresco denies role in fake SARO scam

Rep. Haresco denies role in fake SARO scam. At a press conference on Tuesday, February 11, Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco compares an original Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) with a fake one to deny the National Bureau of Investigation’s accusation that he had a hand in the alleged fake SARO scam. GMA News

The National Bureau of Investigation will not reinvestigate the fake Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) case against Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr despite the solon’s plea, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Wednesday.
 

De Lima, in an interview, said she was turning down Haresco’s request, adding that it was no longer the call of the NBI to go over the matter anew. As Justice chief, de Lima has supervision over the NBI, an agency attached to the Department of Justice.

“I dont think we are inclined to do that kase ifa-file na sa proper forum iyan whether sa Department of Justice or the Ombudsman. That is the proper forum,” De Lima said.

De Lima also said she saw no reason for the NBI to re-investigate Haresco because due process has been observed by the investigators and attempted to get the lawmaker’s side of the story early on.

“They have exerted efforts short of issuing subpoena to access him but it was unsuccessful. They wanted to access him but hindi daw sila hinarap at pinagbigyan,” De Lima said.

In its findings, the NBI said Haresco should be charged for falsification of public documents under Article 171 Par. 2 of the Revised Penal Code.

Apart from him, four others were recommended to be charged, namely:

  • Emmanuel Raza, congressional staff of Zamboanga City Rep. Lilia Macruhon-Nuño.
  • Elvie Rafael, driver of Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos
  • Bhernie Beltran from the DBM
  • Mary Ann Castillo, consultant in Haresco’s office.

According to the NBI, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala received a letter dated October 21, 2013 from the office of Haresco. Attached to the letter was a particular SARO, which was included in the series of SAROs canceled by the DBM.

“The requirement of gain or benefit was satisfied because Cong. Haresco, Jr. would surely take the credit if the project mentioned in the SARO would be implemented considering that his district was its beneficiary,” said the NBI.

The NBI team also found out that Castillo had endorsed the SARO sent by Haresco to the DBM. When the NBI asked Castillo where she got the SARO, she said it came from a man “she was not familiar with, and the man just left the SARO and never returned.”

Haresco “flabbergasted”
 

Haresco, in response, earlier called on the NBI to re-investigate his alleged involvement in the anomaly, saying his staff does not have the capability to produce a fake SARO.

“I feel flabbergasted. I don’t know why the NBI is singling [me] out for this,” he had said.

Haresco said faking a SARO will not benefit him since the document “does not mean anything to a legislator.”

According to the Department of Budget and Management, a SARO is “a specific authority issued to identified agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated. It shall cover expenditures the release of which is subject to compliance with specific laws or regulations, or is subject to separate approval or clearance by competent authority.”

The DBM has junked last month the SARO system following reports of scams involving fake SAROs being issued to implementing agencies.  — ELR, GMA News

Dec 042013
 
De Lima says Region 2 solon linked to fake SAROs, 3 other regions probed

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Invetigation is already investigating the possible involvement of a lawmaker from the Cagayan Valley Region in the Department of Budget and Management’s supposed release of “fake” Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) worth P879 million for farm-to-market-road projects in four regions. In an interview with reporters, De Lima said the anomaly involved “12 to 13 fake SAROs” that were presented to the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Offices not only in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) but also in Calabarzon (Region 4A), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Soccsksargen (Region 12). “Staff ng isang congressman from Region 2 ang unang nagpakita ng fake SARO na iyan, doon sa regional field unit of Region 2… So we do not know what is the extent of the participation of that particular congressman. Is he an innocent recipient of the SARO or not?” said De Lima, adding that the lawmaker’s staff had already been issued a subpoena. De Lima refused to identify the lawmaker while investigation is ongoing. According to the Commission on Audit, a SARO is 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.” Read More …

Aug 192013
 
No pork for lawmakers until scam investigation ends - PNoy

Amid reports of a pork barrel scam that allegedly pillaged billions of pesos worth of public funds through bogus non-government organizations, President Benigno Aquino III said that the release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has been put on hold pending the completion of an investigation into the scam. “Ang statement ni Secretary [of Department of Budget and Management Florencio] Abad, walang ni-release [na PDAF] for the second half,” said Aquino in an exclusive interview with GMA News’ Maki Pulido, aired over “24 Oras”. “Tapusin muna ang inbestigasyon,” added Aquino, “And check kung meron pa ngang loopholes na dapat maisara.” One way government will determine whether there are loopholes is through “performance-based” indicators. “Simpleng bagay lang: may paglalaanan? Ano ang resulta,” the President explained. “Yung budget release nila (mga mambabtas) are based on their performance.” He added that there should also be a “time limit” on the implementation of the project allotted with state funds. If the funds are still unused within a certain amount of time, it would be returned to the government savings. “And savings will realign to those departments that are ready to utilize the said funds,” Aquino said. Abolition Meantime, Aquino argued that the pork barrel should not be abolished, even with allegations that it was misused by lawmakers. He maintained that the PDAF does do some good. “Huwag naman madamay ‘yung mahusay at matino ‘dun sa taong mapagsamantala. ‘Yang PDAF, lalo na sa hard aspect, nakakatulong matugon ng mas mabilis ‘yung pangangailangan ng komunidad,” Read More …