NCMF probes debt that nearly scuttled 2019 PH hajj to Saudi

COTABATO CITY – The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) is investigating suspected fund misuse which reportedly threatened the participation of Filipino pilgrims in this year’s hajj to Saudi Arabia, the NCMF spokesperson said.

Jun Alonto Datu Ramos, head of the agency’s external affairs bureau, said NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan ordered the probe after learning that the commission had incurred at least R11-million debt to Saudi Elyas Company, which handled some hajj-related activities for Filipino pilgrims in 2017 and 2018.

The firm had filed a complaint against the Philippine government for the unpaid debt, it was learned.

Datu Ramos said the unpaid debt would have been “enough grounds” to block an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Filipino pilgrims from joining the hajj until the amount has been fully paid.

“If the debt was not settled, Philippine pilgrims would not be granted visas,” he said, explaining that Pangarungan learned about the situation only after assuming office last year.

President Duterte named Pangarungan as NCMF secretary in July 2018, and designated him Amirul Hajj or head of Filipino pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in January this year.

Ramos said Pangarungan ordered the payment of the debt even while the investigation was still being conducted to ensure that Filipino pilgrims can go to Mecca in August.

He added that if the final report of the fact-finding committee warrants it, complaints will be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Datu Ramos said initial reports from the investigation suggested fund misuse by some NCMF officials, who even reportedly brought relatives to the hajj using public funds.

He said the NCMF, on order of Pangarungan, has recently adopted a tamper-proof system for identification cards to prevent a repeat of the issue in 2018 hajj about some OFWs obtaining fake NCMF IDs to perform hajj at the expense of genuine pilgrims from the Philippines.