THE country’s top cop gave the assurance that unused fund for the government’s anti-communist insurgency programs are intact and will be used wisely, especially for Filipinos in far-flung areas where communist rebels are present.
“Hindi kapabayaan at lalong hindi anomalya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi masyadong nagastos ang inilaang NTF-ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) Fund para sa PNP noong 2020,” said Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police General Guillermo Eleazar.
“Dahil sa pandemya, na-i-release lamang ang pondong umaabot sa kabuuang P722.955 million sa PNP noong Oktubre 26, 2020 at hindi pa ito puwedeng gastusin lahat sa natitirang dalawang buwan ng 2020 dahil sa mahigpit na alituntunin ng batas sa paggastos ng pondo ng taumbayan,” he added.
The PNP chief made the statement in response to the report of the Commission on Audit (COA), which called the attention of the PNP for its supposed low disbursement of the budget for anti-communist insurgency projects.
According to the COA report, only PhP86.57 million was spent for its anti-communist programs, an amount that was very low compared to the PhP722.955 million fund that was released by the Department of Budget and Management in 2020.
Further, only P240.8 million was obligated, leaving a balance of P482.15 million.
Eleazar, however, stressed that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already advised the PNP that the NTF-ELCAC Fund is considered as a “continuing appropriation,” which gives the PNP until December 31 this year to spend it.
“Makakaasa ang ating mga kababayan na sa aking pamumuno, wala ni isang sentimo sa pondong ito ang mawawala sa korapsyon dahil ito ay buwis ng taumbayan na dapat pangalagaan at hindi pag-interesan,” Eleazar said.
The PNP leadership also took note of the other matters pointed out by the State auditor such as the procurement made by the Bicol Police Regional Office, which were supposedly not supported with documents, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Police’s alleged failure to obligate funds due to “non-preparation of project activities.”
“We have acknowledged these findings. We will treat these as lessons learned upang hindi na rin maulit sa mga susunod na budget allocation and utilization,” he said explained.
He added and vowed that the PNP organization would always observe transparency in the utilization of its budget.
“We want to assure not just the COA but the general public that we are transparent on how funds being allocated to the organization are being utilized and that expenses are well-accounted,” he said.