[SIZE=2]Malacaņang orders probe into alleged irregularities in P218-M rice program[/SIZE]
09/15/2008 | 09:20 AM
MANILA, Philippines -Malacaņang on Monday said it has ordered an investigation into alleged irregularities plaguing the P218.7-million Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) rice program.
In a radio interview, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was "concerned" over findings that at least 52 signatures of farmer-beneficiaries in the 218.7-million rice program were fake.
Dureza said such an irregularity, if proven, betrays the "gains" of the value-added tax used to fund the distribution of hybrid rice, certified seeds, farm inputs and fertilizers.
He said the Commission on Audit (COA) should forward its findings to the proper agency, including the Ombudsman if the culprits include government officials, or the proper prosecutors or courts if the suspects include citizens.
"The President is very concerned about all this. Sayang ang pinagsakripisyuhan niya - she went through a process and became very unpopular para mag-raise ng resources, ngayon lulustayin ng iba (The president is concerned about all this. She sacrificed much to raise an unpopular VAT. Now, some people are wasting it all away)," Dureza said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
Dureza said Malacaņang will be following the case closely, adding that it should be relatively simple to catch the culprits because they can trace the names and signatures.
"Talagang tutukan, madaling tingnan ang dokumento at pangalan at sino gumawa niyan. When the full force of the law is applied, I'm sure it will be in this case tutukan natin (It will be easy to trace the documents. When the full force of the law is applied and I am sure it
will be in this case, we'll keep tabs on it)," he said.
But he remained mum on command responsibility, saying it should go up only as far as the evidence can provide.
The "GMA" project is an initiative of the agriculture department, which in turn is under the Office of the President.
"Minsan may official diyan walang ebidensya to link him, unfortunately tinatamaan din siya. Command responsibility is sometimes overstretched (Sometimes command responsibility is overstretched. Even officials who had nothing to do with the mess are punished)," Dureza said.
- GMANews.TV