PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said on Thursday, July 15, 2021, that the unused budget allotted for anti-communist insurgency programs are intact.
“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,” Eleazar said in a statement.
“Dahil sa pandemya, na-i-release lamang ang pondong umaabot sa kabuuang P722.955 million sa PNP noong Oktubre 26, 2020 at hindi pa ito puwedeng gastusin lahat sa natitirang dalawang buwan ng 2020 dahil sa mahigpit na alituntunin ng batas sa paggastos ng pondo ng taumbayan,” he added.
In its report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said that of the P722.96-million anti-insurgency funds released to the PNP as a member of the NTF-ELCAC, only P86.57 million or 12 percent have been used.
The national government has allocated P19 billion for NTF-Elcac for 2021. Over P1 billion was allocated for the PNP.
The COA said only P722.96 million was released to the PNP, P240.80 million of which was obligated, leaving an unobligated balance of P482.15 million.
It said 35 percent, or P86.57 million, of the obligated funds were used for procurement projects while the rest of the funds were considered unpaid disbursements.
Eleazar, however, stressed that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already advised the PNP that the NTF-ELCAC fund is considered as a continuing appropriation, which gives the PNP until December 31, 2021, to spend it.
Meanwhile, he said they will address other matters pointed out by the state auditor such as the procurement made by the Bicol Police Regional Office, which were supposedly not supported with documents, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Police’s alleged failure to obligate funds due to “non-preparation of project activities.”
“Titingnan natin kung may naging pagkukulang ang ating kapulisan dito. We want to assure not just the COA but the general public that we are transparent on how funds being allocated to the organization are being utilized and that expenses are well-accounted,” he said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)