Other auditors to testify

MANILA, Philippines - The other state auditors who took part in the investigation of former military comptroller Carlos Garcia will attend an inquiry at the House of Representatives on Tuesday to clarify the statements of their supervisor, Heidi Mendoza.

Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Reynaldo Villar told The STAR all those invited to the inquiry will appear before the House.

“They have received invitations from the committee,” he said.

“If invited, mas maganda siguro nandun din ako (it might be better if I am also present).

“Moral support tayo. Kawawa naman itong mga ito. Antayin naman natin at pakinggan kung ano ang sasabihin nila.” (We’ll listen to what they have to say and give them moral support).”

Former COA chairman Guillermo Carague will also be present at the inquiry, he added.

The COA said Mendoza has been giving the public “misleading information.”

It did not refuse any audit report since Mendoza’s team is supposed to submit the reports to the Office of the Ombudsman, where they were seconded for an inter-agency investigation, the COA added.

Villar said Mendoza and her team received P198,940.77 in financial support during their 14-month investigation of Garcia.

Villar said records show that Mendoza and 10 state auditors under her supervision had the COA’s support to build up a plunder case against Garcia through an inter-agency investigation spearheaded by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mendoza could not have uncovered all the supposed evidence by herself, he added.

Villar said from November 2004 to January 2006, the audit team received P160,149.60 in travel expenses, P21,146.30 in representation allowances, P6,100 in communication funds, and P11,544.87 in gas allowances.

He said that showed COA supported them.

Funds for Mendoza

The social arm of the Archdiocese of Manila is starting a sanctuary fund for Mendoza.

Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, said Catholic Church-run Radio Veritas, which he heads, and the Santa Maria Della Strada Parish, where Mendoza belongs, headed by Fr. Emmanuel Sarez are accepting donations for the whistleblower.

“We would have a sanctuary fund for the new heroes, those who are willing to initiate changes in the government so that they would truly serve the people,” he said.

Speaking over Radio Veritas, Fr. Pascual said that Mendoza took up the crusade to expose irregularities in the military despite being jobless and having children going to school.

“These whistleblowers are our modern day heroes who are not afraid to tell the truth,” he said.

“So if you have something to donate, either in cash or in kind, to the family of Heidi and her children… then we should support her and others who are like her.”

Fr. Pascual said the Catholic Church is ready to provide sanctuary to witnesses or whistleblowers.

“We want to inform everyone that the Catholic Church is ready to accept people who want to tell the truth on anomalies in government or even in the private sector so that truth and justice would reign,” he said.

However, Fr. Pascual said those applying for sanctuary would have to pass their screening process.

“Since the Catholic Church supports those who are willing to expose irregularities in the government, we are prepared to put up our own Witness Protection Program,” he said.

“This would be called the Church Witness Protection Program that would protect the common good of the Filipino people.” —With Evelyn Macairan