Imee misused P66.5-M tobacco funds — lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines -  Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas has accused the governor of his province, Imee Marcos, of misusing P66.5 million in tobacco funds.

In a House of Representatives good government committee hearing on the alleged irregularity, Fariñas said Marcos authorized the purchase of 115 assorted motor vehicles in 2011 and 2012 “without the benefit of public biddings.”

“She was both the requesting officer and the approving officer. The huge amount was released in three tranches to two disbursing officers in the form of cash advances. A major purchase through a cash advance is a violation of the procurement law and the auditing code,” Fariñas pointed out.

Resolution 882 authored by Fariñas and two of his deputies – Pampanga Reps. Juan Pablo Bondoc and Aurelio Gonzales Jr. – prompted the inquiry.

According to them, the P66.5 million was part of Ilocos Norte’s share from tobacco revenues under Republic Act 7171 or the “Act to promote the development of the farmer in the Virginia tobacco-producing provinces.”

They said the law requires the funds to be used for livelihood, development and infrastructure projects that would benefit tobacco farmers and promote the growth of the industry and that purchases of motor vehicles are not among those authorized.

“Thus, it was illegal to use tobacco funds in the first place, aside from the absence of bidding processes to acquire the motor vehicles,” they stressed.

Based on the resolution, the first cash advance of P18.6 million was made on Dec. 1, 2011 for the purchase of 40 units of mini-cab to be distributed to different barangays in the province.

The second, for P15.3 million, was made on May 25, 2012 for the acquisition of five second-hand buses; while the third, for P32.55 million, was made on Sept. 12, 2012 for the procurement of 70 units of Foton mini-truck.