Bayani Fernando's Favorite Charities

COA: Giving cash gifts to MMDA chair irregular

Money went to charities, says Fernando
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:27:00 06/02/2009

Filed Under: Government, Graft & Corruption, Politics, Festive Events (including Carnivals)
hahaha carnivals

MANILA, Philippines--Giving P1.6 million in cash to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando was "irregular," a government auditor told senators yesterday.

"It's irregular because it's not compliant with rules and regulations," said Ireno Manalo of the Commission on Audit, referring to the cash gifts the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) gave to Fernando on four separate occasions.

Manalo, who is also the MMDA's supervising auditor, made the statement after Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. asked him whether the cash gifts were "illegal or legal."

The Senate yesterday started looking into the matter after Senate President Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada's privilege speech last month questioning the cash gifts given to Fernando.

According to Estrada, the MMDA chief received a total of P1.1 million when he celebrated his birthday in 2003, 2005, and 2006. The amount was deducted from the MMFF's nontax revenues as well as the shares of beneficiaries from the proceeds of the annual film festival.

At the first joint hearing of the Senate blue ribbon and public information and mass media, Assistant Secretary Edenison Faisan, head of the MMFF finance committee, said that Fernando also received a cash gift of P500,000 in 2004, bringing the total amount to P1.6 million.

Estrada and Revilla learned from MMFF officials that Fernando was given the birthday cash gifts for his role in making the annual filmfest a moneymaker. The MMDA chief is the overall head of the MMFF.

Espiridion Laxa, chair of the Film Academy of the Philippines, said the money did not come from amusement taxes but from private funds, specifically from sponsorships.

The senators expressed surprise when Manalo told them that there was no record of the amount of amusement taxes collected or disbursed in the MMDA's books of account.

so saan na punta ang pera?

Meanwhile, Fernando said he saw no need to defend himself in the Senate because the cash gifts given to him came from "private funds."

private or public you need to explain these Mr. Chairman. You are being accused of corruption

"I don't know why they said it was irregular. I didn't do anything wrong. In the first place, it's private funds kaya hindi ina-audit ng COA 'yan (that's why these are not audited by COA)," he told the Inquirer over the phone.

Fernando said he did not attend the hearing because it was "pointless." He added, however, that he would present himself before the Senate "in due time."

At the same time, he confirmed that he received the cash gifts although he said the money went to his "favorite charities."

anong mga charities kaya yon?

With Allison W. Lopez

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view/20090602-208328/COA-Giving-cash-gifts-to-MMDA-chair-irregular