Two 5-man teams to audit House funds

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has formed two five-man teams to conduct an audit of funds during the time of ousted Speaker Jose de Venecia and implement reforms in the chamber.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles will designate five lawmakers for the first team, while Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis will name five members to compose another team.

Nograles confirmed to The STAR that the teams will meet soon to discuss details of the committee.

“Solis’ five-man team will meet with my five-man team to collate and detail all the reforms needed in the House. Reform bloc (to which party Solis belongs) plus Speaker’s team equals a very good teamwork,” Nograles said.

The new Speaker has assured his colleagues that reforms in the House will be implemented on or before March 10.

Solis said they will examine how De Venecia spent his “more than P600 million intelligence funds every year” out of the P3.7-billion budget for the entire House, part of the reason De Venecia was booted out of his post.

Solis, spokesman of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, the second largest party after Lakas-CMD, also revealed that they will look into reports that the Pangasinan congressman hired 200 “ghost consultants,” which includes the House’s media office.

Among the other lawmakers who, he said, will join him are Camarines Norte Rep. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, a lawyer and former Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner; Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay, a CPA who used to be with SGV; and La Union Rep. Thomas Dumpit.

Nograles stressed that transparency tops his reform agenda, particularly on the chamber’s book of accounts.

He said the House committee on accounts will meet every Wednesday to review and assess House expenditures.

“The Accounts Committee did not meet regularly in the past. Under our watch, we should endeavor to call as many meetings to explain to members how the budget of the House is farmed out, in line with transparency,” he said. – Delon Porcalla