Funds for anti-insurgency programs 'intact': PNP chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 15, 2021): Funds for anti-insurgency programs 'intact': PNP chief (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar (File photo)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday assured that the funds allotted for its anti-insurgency programs are intact and will be wisely used for the welfare of Filipinos residing in far-flung areas known to be infested with communist terrorists.

“Hindi kapabayaan at lalong hindi anomalya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi masyadong nagastos ang inilaang NTF ELCAC (National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict) Fund para sa PNP noong 2020 (Negligence and anomalies are not the reasons why the allocated NTF ELCAC funds intended for the PNP were not fully utilized in 2020)," PNP chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

Eleazar was responding to a report of the Commission on Audit (COA) which flagged the PNP over its supposed low disbursement of funds for anti-insurgency projects.

The state audit body said the PNP only spent PHP86.57 million on anti-insurgency programs, which comprises only almost 12 percent of a total of PHP722.85 million released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in 2020.

"Dahil sa pandemya, nai-release lamang ang pondo nitong umaabot sa (halos) PHP723 million sa PNP noong Oktubre 26, 2020 at hindi pa ito pwedeng gastusin lahat sa natitirang dalawang buwan ng 2020 dahil sa mahigpit na alituntunin ng batas sa paggastos ng pondo ng taumbayan (Because of the pandemic, the total funds amounting to almost PHP723 million was only released to the PNP on October 26, 2020. Disbursing the entire budget in the remaining months of 2020 is not allowed due to the stringent rules on the spending of public funds)," Eleazar said.

He added that as of end-2020, only PHP240.8 million was obligated which left a balance of PHP482.15 million.

Eleazar, however, stressed that DBM has advised the PNP that the NTF ELCAC fund is considered as a "continuing appropriation", which means they have until December 31 this year to utilize it.

He added that the PNP also took note of other matters pointed out by state auditors such as procurements made by the Bicol Police Regional Office which were not supported with documents, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Police’s alleged failure to obligate funds due to “non-preparation of project activities.”

“We have acknowledged these findings. We will treat these as lessons learned upang hindi na rin maulit sa mga susunod na (so that there won't be a repeat of these mistakes in) budget allocation and utilization,” Eleazar said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1147136