Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Enrile’s ex-COS Gigi Reyes says Sen. Cayetano’s anger is “rightful” but calls him a liar as well

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Below is the full Text of Atty. Gigi Reyes’ just-issued STATEMENT AND PUBLIC APOLOGY.

My thanks @Shanna for providing this. 

Reyes explains why she resigned irrevocably and discloses that her boss, Juan Ponce Enrile, was supposed to have stated in his Monday privilege speech that he was resigning “IRREVOCABLY” as Senate President but didn’t.

She explains why she resigned abruptly:

My resignation is also due to an honest difference of opinion with my principal, the Hon. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, on how to respond to all these mad and baseless accusations of public fund misuse.

She also discloses that she had “a serious disagreement” with veteran Senate Secretary Emma Lirio Reyes “over her refusal to state the name of the Minority Leader as the one calling for a private audit of the Senate’s funds (which was actually the MOOE of the Secretariat) in the press statement that the Senate President asked her to prepare detailing the Senate’s budget so that the public can be enlightened.”

It seems Gigi Reyes has not only burned her bridges but the adjacent towns as well.

It would seem this is her own version of a senator’s privilege speech.

This photo of Enrile and his Chief-of-Staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes has gone viral on Facebook. Gigi Reyes sits in the same table with President Noynoy Aquino, Vice-President Jojo Binay and ex-President Erap Estrada during the latter's birthday dinner.

This photo of Enrile and his Chief-of-Staff Jessica “Gigi” Reyes has gone viral on Facebook. Gigi Reyes sits in the same table with President Noynoy Aquino, Vice-President Jojo Binay and ex-President Erap Estrada during the latter’s birthday dinner.

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  2. JPE top Senate spender in 2011

    By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star)
    Updated February 24, 2013 – 12:00am

    MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile recorded the highest expenses among senators in 2011, according to a report released by the Commission on Audit (COA).

    Enrile incurred total expenses of P118,306,463.65 from January to December 2011.

    The figure consists of his salaries in the amount of P1,035,837; extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses, P1.649 million; other miscellaneous and operating expenditures, P66.069 million.

    Enrile was followed by Senate President Pro- Tempore Jinggoy Estrada with P62,122,308.41; Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, P56,259,173.08; and Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, P55,039,015.88.

    The COA released a detailed list of the amounts paid to and expenses incurred by the 24 senators in 2011 in response to the calls from various sectors to open the books of the Senate to the public.

    It was unclear why the salaries of the senators recorded for 2011 varied with some receiving P315,000 like Sen. Panfilo Lacson. Nine others received P420,000 pay and 11 others got P905,393.

    Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
    Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who took over Zubiri’s post in August 2011, were 23rd and 24th on the list, respectively. The list was verified by COA supervising auditor Mario Lipana.

    The travel expenses of each senator were practically the same at P272,760, except for Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV who incurred an additional P279,048 for foreign travel.

    For rentals of office space/equipment, four senators topped the list namely Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with P2.205 million; Sergio Osmeña III, P2.162 million; Edgardo Angara, P1.094 million; and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, P840,000.

    Only Trillanes recorded a capital outlay expense amounting to P77,701.78 among all senators.

    Under the item of professional/consultancy fee, only eight senators incurred such expense namely Enrile, P1.472 million; Estrada, P960,000; Angara, P943,750; Sotto, P775,435.48; Lacson, P480,000; Trillanes, P300,000; Pimentel, P206,301.07; and Loren Legarda, P62,106.04.

    Rounding out the top 24 in the total amounts paid to and expenses incurred were Trillanes with P59,977,548.91; Ramon Revilla Jr., P49,832,194.03; Marcos, P49,219,513.85; Escudero, P48,729,719.79; Honasan, P47,185,274.44; Francis Pangilinan, P46,889,065.06; Legarda; P44,107,941.55; Manuel Lapid, P43,565,023.21; Ralph Recto, P42,390,681.54; Pia Cayetano, P42,122,431.08; Angara, P41,789,602.76; Teofisto Guingona III, P41,502,359.45; Santiago, P41,036,900.44; Manuel Villar Jr., P40,312,799.12; Osmeña, P37,680,862.99; Lacson, P37,115,276.55; Franklin Drilon, P34,968,031.74; Joker Arroyo, P31,867, 125.93; Zubiri, P23,955,240.03; and Pimentel, P19,980,236.40.

    The Senate has submitted its financial records to the COA for perusal based on an agreement reached by the senators.

    Part of the agreement was to provide an itemized list of the expenses, something which the COA was not able to get before because of a resolution passed by Congress.

    Many of the expenses incurred by the senators were previously liquidated only through a certification and not itemized as required by law.

    SOURCE: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/02/24/912474/jpe-top-senate-spender-2011

  3. Enrile’s ambush claim ‘defies logic’ – ex-police chief Montaño

    6:19 pm | Monday, February 11th, 2013

    MANILA, Philippines – Retired major general and former national police chief Ramon Montaño has added to the voices contradicting Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s claim in a recent memoir that his eventful ambush on September 22, 1972 was not staged.

    Montaño said he and his then superior, the late Major General Prospero Olivas, were at the scene at the time, which was the night before Malacañang announced that President Ferdinand Marcos had imposed martial law.

    “I was the one with General Olivas who conducted an ocular investigation. I questioned the aide-de-camp (of Enrile) who was there. It was impossible to be a real ambush,” he said in an interview Monday.

    Montaño said Enrile’s ambush claim “defies logic” as he recalled observing that the bullet holes on Enrile’s car were “very neatly aligned” and how the gunfire conveniently missed all of the occupants.

    He said such outcome would have been “impossible” had the car really been moving when it was sprayed with automatic gunfire.

    “They allege they were intercepted and there was gunfire. If you do that, the bullets should have been all over (the car). But in this case, they (bullet holes) were very neatly aligned and then no one was hit.

    “If the car was running when hit with an automatic weapon, dapat sabog iyon all over (bullet holes should be scattered). Eh iyon aligned na aligned (Those holes were perfectly aligned),” Montaño said.

    “It defies logic,” added Montaño, who became chief of the defunct Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) in 1986 under the late president Corazon Aquino.

    He said he did not submit a report nor did he meddle with the official report on the ambush.

    He said he preferred to keep his mouth shut in light of martial law’s imposition.

    At the time of the ambush, Montaño was with the police intelligence branch of the Philippine Constabulary’s Criminal Investigation Service (precursor of the present Criminal Investigation and Detection Group).

    Montaño is running for the Senate as an independent candidate.

    In his memoir published last year, Enrile said that on September 22, 1972, his three-vehicle convoy was driving through Wack Wack subdivision on his way home to Dasmariñas Village from Camp Aguinaldo where he had just briefed top military officers on the implementation of martial law.

    Enrile, then defense secretary, said a speeding car rushed by and opened several bursts of gunfire toward his car before it sped away.

    Enrile in effect took back his earlier admission that his ambush was staged to set up martial law. He made the admission on February 22, 1986 when he and then Lt. Gen. Fidel Ramos led other soldiers in defying Marcos that his ambush was fake to set up martial law.

    Marcos used the ambush among the reasons to justify placing the country under martial law which served to perpetuate him in power until his ouster on February 25, 1986.

    Source: newsinfo inquirer net/356565/ex-police-chief-montano-disputes-enriles-claim-on-ambush

    • Miriam wants probe into JPE’s ‘false claims’ in bio

      by Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBNnews.com
      Posted at 02/11/2013 3:20 PM
      Updated as of 02/11/2013 3:20 PM

      MANILA – After a long absence due to hypertension, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago made her presence felt with more promises of charges against Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

      In a statement, Santiago said she will file in the beginning of the 16th Congress a probe into the “brazen false claims” of Enrile in his book “Juan Ponce Enrile: A Memoir”.

      She said she has always believed that Enrile faked his ambush while going home to Dasmariñas Village in 1972, an incident that was used to justify the proclamation of martial law.

      She said Enrile may have committed any of several crimes punishable by the Revised Penal Code, such as: unlawful use of means of publication, falsification by a public officer of a document, or falsification by private individual.

      More than these, however, Santiago believes that “Whatever the crime, the basic rule is that the accused should have violated public faith and destroyed the truth, as decided by the Supreme Court in the 1985 case of Gamido, and the separate case of Sabiano.”

      Among those she wants to invite in the probe is senatorial candidate Ramon Montaño. The latter was appointed Philippine National Police chief after the martial law years. He headed a team tasked to probe the alleged ambush. The team later issued a report that the ambush was fake.

      In an article that came out in Yahoo! News, Montaño said he did not finish Enrile’s autobiography since “it was full of lies.”

      Besides the “fake” ambush, Montaño also claimed that Enrile merely pretended to support President Corazon Aquino in the 1986 snap elections. He claimed Enrile wanted a military junta that he himself would lead.

      Santiago said Montaño is willing to testify before the Senate on the matter. “The rule in evidence will apply to Enrile: false in one thing, false in all things. Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus,” she said.

      Santiago will also make a public appearance for the first time when she delivers a speech tomorrow, Tuesday, February 12, at the UP Manila. She will discuss, among others, the consequences in international law of the Tubbataha Reef incident involving the US Navy’s minesweeper.

      Source: www abs-cbnnews com/nation/02/11/13/miriam-wants-probe-jpes-false-claims-bio

      —

      – On a civil case pending before Branch 118 of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court, lakay JPE would have to prove his sainthood as F Marcos’ Martial Law enforcer.

      – OFF TOPIC, but related to an ongoing libel case filed by Sen Pres JPE against a Philstar Columnist who was exercising her Constitutional Right of Freedom to (Free) Speech.

  4. gmanetwork.com/news/photo/31604/senate-employees-picket-in-support-of-enrile-gigi-reyes

    from: abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/30/13/senate-employees-happy-kami-kay-enrile:
    Atty. Sergio Garcia, chief of staff of Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, said the demonstration was decided at the last minute and nobody organized it.

    Among those present were employees from the Senate secretariat, administration, and the offices of senators Enrile, Estrada, Ralph Recto, Lito Lapid, Ramon Revilla Jr., Gregorio Honasan II, and Panfilo Lacson.

  5. magtanong lang po ako sa mga nasa authoridad na naririto sa blog ni raissa. bakit po ba hindi pa palitan ang konstitusyon ng ating bansa? di ba matagal na ang konstitusyon na ginagmit ngayon. di ba dapat IAGAPAY NA SA PANAHON ang nilalaman ng konstitusyon ng BANSANG PILIPINAS. para yung mga hindi tama at naayon sa ating kapanahunan ngayon ay maisaayos. para mawala na ang mga hindi dapat na ginagawa ng mga nanunungkulan.

    • @pinay710

      Delikado kasi pag binago. Open sa abuso, baka biglang hindi lang baguhin ang partikular na gustong baguhin, baka pati form of govt baguhin. Pano kung maging parliamentary, di pwede na uling si Gloria maging Prime Minister pag nagkaisa ang mga bataan nyag congresista. Hindi na tao ang pipili ng direkta sa presidente.

      Nangangamba lang ang tao, kasi parang forever na nilang hawakan ang pwesto. Karamian pa naman mga Dynasties.

      • @parekoy, salamat po. akala ko puede yung lang partikular lalo na sa pagaayos ng pondo ng lahat ng departamento at bawasan ang masyadong garapal na kapangyarihan ng mga namumuno ng mga sensitibong departamento na magpapahirap sa mga mamamayan.katulad ng nangyari sa sendo. sobra ang kapangyarihan ng namumuno ng senado. ang kanilang adhikain ay MAHAL KO SARILI KO!!

        • Basta televised ang proseso ng pagbabago ng Konstitusyon mahihirapan sila na abusuhin ang mga amendments dahil maraming matang nagmamatyag. Sa pamamagitan ng internet, napakabilis maipaparating sa mga tao ang mga self-serving proposals sa pagbabago ng mga probisyon sa Konstitusyon kaya hindi ito magtatagumpay. In the end, ang kagustuhan ng nakararami ang tunay na mamamayani sa pagbabago ng ating saligang batas!

  6. SENATE IN SESSION
    MAG-INGAT SA MGA MAGNANAKAW

    Bakit kaya si Miriam lang ang nagbalik nong Cash Gift?

    Ibig sabihin okay sa lahat na Senators yung gift?

    Nabanggit ni A. Cayetano na maliit lang yun 250T nya kumpar sa bilyon na pwed nya sanang makuhang pork kay GMA. yun pala bakit hind nya rin isoli muna? Yun din kay Pia nasaan na?

    Mga superyaman ang mga Senators, kung talagang nagkamali sila at nagastos na pwedeng questionable, bakit hindi muna nila abonohan yung pera para lumabas na kahit na papano may natitira pang hiya sila? Ibalik muna sa kaban at pag tama ang kanilang claims na gastos, di bayaran sila. Pero ibalik muna ang mga pera.

    Daming tanong, wala pang mga sagot.

    • As long as the expenses are properly liquidated, it’s OK. Para sa MOOE nman talaga yun. Pride chicken lang naman daw kasi yung kay Tia Miriam kasi unang sinoli daw ni Mamay Juan yung mga soltidos, galletas, otap atbp na inorder pa sa Ilo-Ilo.

    • Bigla ngang naging tameme ang mga senador natin ngayon pagdating sa isyu ng cash gift and MOOE eh. Paano lahat sila nakinabang dun.

      Out of topic: Kung nagcreate na lang sila ng mga bagong korte at ang perang napasakamay mga mga senador at kongreso eh ipinangsweldo na lang sa mga bagong judges at court employees baka umayos at mapabilis pa ang sistema ng hustisya natin. Kaya malakas ang loob ng mga kriminal dahil alam nila na napakabagal ng hustisya sa bansa natin. Pero kung maraming judges (at public prosecutors at PAO lawyers), mabilis ang proseso ng mga kaso.

  7. PAGHAHAMBING

    2012 Fight: Chief Executive vs Chief Justice
    2013 Fight: Senate President vs Senators

    2012 Chief Justice
    2013 Senate President (Chief of Staff)

    2012 SC Resolution hiding SALN
    2013 Concurrent Resolution of Both Houses hiding true expenditures

    2012 and 2013 Corruption

    2012 and 2013 :mad: :cry: :shock: :eek: (emotions running high)

  8. PAGHAHAMBING

    2012 Fight: Chief Executive vs Chief Justice
    2013 Fight: Senate President vs Senators

    2012 Chief Justice
    2013 Senate President (Chief of Staff)

    2012 SC Resolution hiding SALN
    2013 Concurrent Resolution of Both Houses hiding true expenditures
    2012 and 2013 Corruption

    2012 and 2013 :mad: :cry: :shock: :eek: (emotions running high)

  10. To CPMERs: Ang sinasabi ko po sa inyong BONUSES and other PERKs na tinatanggap ng mga DETAILED COA personnels to other Government Agencies ay galing sa PONDO ng Agencies where they are DETAILED. BAWAL po Ito kasi DOBLE ang KUBRA ng BONUS nila, kasi binibigyan din sila ng mga BONUSES ng COA mismo.

    Technical Malversation daw ito sabi ng ating mga ABOGADO… Double Compensation din o GRAFT ang kaso ng taga COA dito……Magtanung po kayo sa inyo inyong SECTOR Kung totoo ang sinasabi ko mga CPMERs.

    tatahimik iyan mga COA assigned kasi halos lahat ay natanggap ng BAWAL na EXTRA BONUS.

    • During my time, up to 1986, wala talaga kaming tinatanggap. I think from 1980 tinigil na ng mga corporations dahil nagre: reklamo ang mga local and national agencies. But i heard they revived it sometime in the late 90’s. I should know i had contacts with some colleagues who were later on assigned at gsis for example, they were able to collect payback bonuses which were temporary held (bale ina-accrue nila as savings meaning they are continued to be included in the budget of the corporation waiting for the greenlight at the central office to allow it to be given. Siguro, pumayag na ang central office na ibigay ang allowance sa mga coan’s na assigned sa conrporation. I don’t really know. It must be investigated because they’re not supposed to receive these allowances precisely because they are supposed to be independent.

      • Lumala @pelang noong panahon ni GLORYA,…..in order for a resident COA to approved payment of BONUSES for JOB ORDER employees with no employees – employers relationship taken from income of a State University ( not allowed by LAW as it was not one of the power of the Board of Regents to approve/release the same,)

        They ( COA ) were given BONUSES to keep silent on the wrong disbursement. Journalist can call State Universities and ask about this wrong doings. Only a few are following the LAW.

  11. To CPMERs: Ang sinasabi ko po sa inyong BONUSES and other PERKs na tinatanggap ng mga DETAILED COA personnels to other Government Agencies ay galing sa PONDO ng Agencies where they are DETAILED. BAWAL po Ito kasi DOBLE ang KUBRA ng BONUS nila, kasi binibigyan din sila ng mga BONUSES ng COA mismo.

    Technical Malversation daw ito sabi ng ating mag ABOGADO… Double Compensation din o GRAFT ang kaso ng tag a COA dito……Magtanung po kayo sa inyo inyong SECTOR Kung totoo ang sinasabi ko mga CPMERs.

    tatahimik iyan mga COA assigned kasi halos lahat ay natanggap ng BAWAL na EXTRA BONUS.

  12. Senator P Lacson, who chairs the Senate Accounts Committee, agreed to open up its books and “… “effectively repealed” Concurrent Resolution 10, which allows lawmakers to account for their expenses only through a certification”.

    “We can also formalize the rescission of the concurrent resolution by way of another resolution,” he said.

    ‘Ceasefire’ as Senate agrees to open books for audit

    by Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
    Posted at 01/28/2013 6:22 PM
    Updated as of 01/28/2013 6:22 PM

    MANILA – After a week of bruising word wars among senators over the use of the Senate’s funds, they have agreed to a “ceasefire,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

    At the same time, they will also comply with a request from the Commission on Audit (COA) to have the chamber’s expenses audited, and begin to liquidate their maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) through receipts and not just certifications.

    Senators reached these agreements in a closed-door meeting on Monday, January 28.

    “Napag-usapan din na ceasefire na muna,” Lacson said after Monday’s caucus. “Pero ang problema, ang mga wala diyan, baka hindi sila abot ng agreement na may ceasefire.”

    One of those absent in the meeting was Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who criticized Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for his distribution of the Senate’s savings allegedly as cash gifts to senators, and against whom Lacson plans to file a case for misuse of Senate funds.

    Lacson said the Senate has no choice but comply with COA’s request, which was made through a letter by its chairperson, Ma. Gracia M. Pulido Tan.

    In the letter, Tan cited COA’s constitutional mandate to audit the expenses of all government agencies.

    “We seek your assistance in making available to us, in the soonest possible time, all papers, documents and information in your possession or care as Chairman of the Committee on Accounts, particularly those bearing on the augmentation and realignment of Senate funds, as well as the use/s to which the MOOE given to members of the Senate have been devoted, so that we can forthwith carry out a ‘no-holds barred’ audit of the Senate finances,” she wrote.

    Lacson, who chairs of the accounts committee, said the required documents have been prepared. The initial batch of documents that will be submitted to COA covers the years 2010 to 2012, while those dating back to 2007 will also be released at a later time.

    “Today or tomorrow, the accounting office will be ready to submit the initial batch of documents,” he told reporters

    “We have to comply, even the House. We’ll all have to comply.”

    CONCURRENT RESO REPEALED

    In deciding to change the way they liquidate their MOOE, Lacson said senators “effectively repealed” Concurrent Resolution 10, which allows lawmakers to account for their expenses only through a certification that says the money was used properly without the need to present receipts. But they would have to inform members of the House, he added.

    “We can also formalize the rescission of the concurrent resolution by way of another resolution,” he said.

    Lacson said the House initiated the resolution in 2011 because it had problems with its resident auditor. Although liquidation through certification is not allowed by law, he said it found “legal cover” through the resolution that both the House and the Senate adopted.

    Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano had earlier called for an audit of the Senate’s expenses by a private firm. He has publicly attacked Enrile because of the latter’s alleged unfair distribution of additional MOOE to senators from the Senate’s savings last year: all but 4 senators, including Cayetano, received P1.6 million in additional funds.

    Lacson pointed out, however, that the budget law does not authorize the Senate to pay for a private auditor. He also said Tan’s letter makes it clear that only COA can audit government agencies.

    “Mahirap talagang i-justify,” he said. “Walang makakapigil kung gustong ipa-audit sa private auditing firm. Pero hindi puwedeng gastusan ng pondo ng gobyerno.”

    Cayetano will file this week a resolution calling for a parallel audit of the Senate’s expenses by COA and a private firm.

    He had argued that COA is susceptible to pressure from lawmakers because their budget goes through Congress for approval and its officials need to be confirmed by Commission on Appointments, which is composed of senators and congressmen.

    • Magandang balita ito kung mag-audit ang COA sa mababa at mataas na kapulungan.
      Ang result ba kaya ay ipapakita nila sa atin pagkatapos? O sila-sila na lang ang maguusap? Kung may anumalya na makita, may kakasuhan kaya?

      • Mas mainam kung parallel audit by COA and one from a blue chip private accounting firm (e.g. SGV).

        Ang audit tingin lang at markado for Senate paper piles, anu ang rules sa mga titles or references of claims? Pa pag aralan pa iyan kung talagang mausisa ang processo ng audit. The Senate may have written or unwritten rules after so many years of wanton claims for reimbursements or payments by mere certification. Loose loose ends.

        JPE as senate pres is alarmed by these development, especially if a private firm is commissioned. Big monies are involved and laid back or relaxed processes of claiming payments.

        JOINT AUDIT NA LANG. Pareho naman din silang mangangapa sa dilim sa umpisa. Iyong irreconcilable volumes, subject for further investigation para mabilis ang preliminary report. Matagal ang field authentication to verify the many claims.

        —

        Cayetano seeks parallel audit of Senate funds

        By Ryan Chua, ABS-CBN News
        Posted at 01/29/2013 5:34 PM
        Updated as of 01/29/2013 5:34 PM

        MANILA, Philippines – Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday filed a resolution calling on the Senate to authorize a joint audit by the Commission on Audit (COA) and a private firm of its expenses.

        Cayetano insisted that nothing should prevent the private sector from looking into the Senate’s finances, which recently caused rifts among senators.

        Senate accounts committee chair Panfilo Lacson had said the Senate is not authorized to pay for a private auditor, but Cayetano believes otherwise.

        “We just have to justify it,” Cayetano told reporters. “If it’s for a public purpose, which is accountability and transparency, why shouldn’t it be authorized?”

        In Resolution 934, Cayetano cited the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which mandates government officials to maintain the principle of public accountability.

        read the rest at http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/29/13/cayetano-seeks-parallel-audit-senate-funds

        @curveball , ang iyong tanong, “Kung may anumalya na makita, may kakasuhan kaya?” I doubt it. A senator can make complaints (SC or Ombudsman), successful prosecution? Slim.

    • “Although liquidation through certification is not allowed by law, he said it found “legal cover” through the resolution that both the House and the Senate adopted.” – Lacson

      So they gave themselves permission to do something not allowed by law by simply agreeing among themselves that this is the way it will be done henceforth? Why does that sound anomalous to me?

      • IT is anomalous (in my opinion).

        Only by a concurrent resolution by both Houses it gave it a lawful color.
        In their practice and implementation, was it legal?

        Let’s see what COA reports after (with or without a parallel or joint audit with a private firm)

        – ‘COA says MOOE not a discretionary fund’ (from newsinfo inquirer net/345991/coa-says-mooe-not-a-discretionary-fund)

        • IT IS REALLY ANOMALOUS.

          As pointed out by @Rene-Ipil which I emphasized in Comment No. 107, a mere Concurrent Resolution CANNOT be enforced as a law.

          Thus, the liquidation by way of certification is WITHOUT legal basis. Also, as can be read in that concurrent resolution (Comment No. 99.3), since time immemorial up to the present, the COA has consistently allowed it.

          Now, the funds aligned and realigned as MOOE of Congress (upper and lower) are WITHOUT receipts.

          According to COA, a staggering 4.9B pesos of MOOE are WITHOUT receipts.

          Either a private auditor or COA will not be able to account for what the lawmakers spent in the past!

        • True.

          To collect, collate and sort through their Certificates (Certifications) on file over the years is a long, long process. Still, COA may opt to request the House members to justify their Certificates by way of proofs. That remains to be seen and subject to availability. Their Certificates submitted are material documents stored or archived for records keeping.

          By COA’s recent request granted by the Senate thru Sen P Lacson’s initiative, how many did each Senator liquidate their funds by way of Certifications since they commenced office? Follow up question; was it fair and square or even for all Sens, or close with the Reps?

          “According to COA, a staggering 4.9B pesos of MOOE are WITHOUT receipts.” So they did some work previously, and allowed it to continue in spite of… They share the blame, … went unreported (at least publicly for sometime) until the recent squabble of unequal Christmas bonuses that it became public knowledge of the ‘anomaly’.

          Why involve a private auditing firm filed recently by Sen A Cayetano? Did COA’s previous work satisfactory? I rest my case.

          —
          – ‘COA says MOOE not a discretionary fund’ (from newsinfo inquirer net/345991/coa-says-mooe-not-a-discretionary-fund)

  13. CONGRATULATIONS, @Rene-Ipil. This is a EUREKA moment…

    A “eureka” moment for the legislators.

    Hats off to @Rene-Ipil in clarifying things. Here is what he pointed out (as copy-pasted from senatedotgovdotph as regards Legislative Process):

    2. Joint Resolutions

    A joint resolution, like a bill, requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the President. It has the force and effect of a law if approved. There is no real difference between a bill and a joint resolution. The latter generally is used when dealing with a single item or issue, such as a continuing or emergency appropriations bill. Joint resolutions are also used for proposing amendments to the Constitution.

    3. Concurrent Resolutions

    A concurrent resolution is usually designated in the Senate as S. Ct. Res. It is used for matters affecting the operations of both houses and must be passed in the same form by both of them. However, they are not referred to the President for his signature, and THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW. Concurrent resolutions are used to fix the time of adjournment of a Congress and to express the “sense of Congress” on an issue.

    http://www.senate.gov.ph/about/legpro.asp

    @Rene-Ipil,

    So, does it mean PH Congress (both upper and lower houses) is “out of order” in invoking the law as regards “liquidation by way of certification”?

    Reading the definition of “Concurrent Resolutions”, shall we now say that PH Congress has NO SENSE???

  14. Mithi
    Merong ngayong insidente, nagulat ang mga botante,
    Perang laan sa nabakante, nitong ating Presidente,
    Meron kaya itong basbas, ng DBM o gabinete,
    Mailipat, iaabante, patungo sa MOOE.

    Mago na si Baycas, meron siyang inilabas,
    Nalaman din sa wakas, kung nasaan ang butas,
    Mga apo ni barabas, iyong mga hudas,
    Binubutasan ang batas, pera ng bayan mawaldas.

    Kalesa ba’y kailangan, kung ang kabayo’y lumisan,
    Kutsero lang ang naiwan, pasahero’y naglayasan,
    Meron pa bang dahilan, halal na mga kawatan,
    Lubos na pagkatiwalaan, nitong mga taong bayan.

    Mithiin ko’y wagas, huwag biglang mautas,
    Mga manggagatas, sa kalabaw ng mga pantas,
    Malagyan ng posas, at humalik sa rehas,
    Yumukod sa batas, magbago ng landas.