Ex-lawmaker hits COA over ‘unfair’ PDAF report

A former lawmaker slammed the Commission on Audit (COA) yesterday for alleging that he misused his P3.6-million pork barrel funds.

Former Baguio City congressman Bernardo Vergara is among 47 lawmakers linked to the alleged misuse of P670 million in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations coursed through a foundation accredited by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Vergara said the government fund was properly liquidated by the foundation.

He said the matter should be investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation, not COA.

In an accomplishment report submitted by the Kagandahan ng Kapaligiran Foundation Inc., Sherry Joy Vivar reported receiving P3.6 million from Vergara’s PDAF for the distribution of livelihood technology kits and the conduct of seminars.

She said the foundation completed the delivery of 593 kits and held seminars on processing meat and fish, paper flower making and dim sum making for 595 participants. The activities were closely monitored by the NCMF, Vivar said.

Jinggoy confident on bail plea

Meanwhile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is on trial for plunder for his alleged involvement in the PDAF scam, said yesterday he remains confident that the Sandiganbayan will allow him to post bail.

Estrada, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, said government lawyers have so far failed to present strong evidence against him.

Reacting to the testimony of an investigator from the Anti-Money Laundering Council saying that the AMLC did not find any red flags in his bank accounts prior to the Office of the Ombudsman’s request for an investigation, Estrada said this proves that he “did not launder any money from the government.”

He said he is “very, very confident” that once the prosecution rests its case, the antigraft court will allow him to post bail.