Midas explains $22-B World Bank loan mess

Court administrator and former Supreme Court spokesman Midas Marquez on Wednesday claimed there was no "anomaly" in the spending of the $22-million loan from the World Bank (WB).

 

Marquez said the alleged "leaked report"  or aide memoire cited by Malacañang only pertained to around $200,000 or about P8 million of the WB fund, and not the entire $21.9 million loan.

 

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was earlier quoted as saying that the WB report talked about supposed "questionable procurements and disbursements" made for the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP).

 

Lacierda further said that the WB report could be "just cause" to remove Marquez from public office.

 

"Iyong sinasabi na $21.9 million, hindi iyon ang kinukuwestyon sa last aide memoire. The memoire concerns only $200,000... [Besides] hindi ako ang nag-administer ng WB project na iyan," said Marquez in an arranged interview with the media in his SC office.

 

Marquez insisted there was no "anomaly" in the disbursement of the WB funds, saying the December 2011 aide memoire merely contained "initial findings" and was a "periodic assessment."

 

"It's very clear naman from the memoire itself na it's not a final report and subject to confirmation of the concerned offices. So dun makikita mo na right away na it's just an initial report," Marquez said.

 

The JRSP, with partial funding from the WB in 2003, was designed to restore efficiency of the justice system in the Philippines.

 

He also pointed out that the report was supposed to be confidential. "Eh kaso nag-leak nga, so akala ng marami final na. So, pati ang SC nalalagay sa alanganin," Marquez said.

 

Marquez said WB officials are scheduled to return to the country this month to check on how the WB fund was spent.

 

"Baka tawagin rin ako doon... Naka-ready naman ang records kung saan napunta [ang funds]. I am very confident," Marquez said, adding that he has in fact already submitted comments on the matter.

 

"If I will be called to explain my side and my participation in the WB issue, I will do it," Marquez assured the  public.

 

Marquez said the supposed controversy on the spending of the WB funds was an "old issue." Amid the allegations against his office, Marquez said he would not resign from his post as court administrator.

 

"I've been court administrator for two and a half years. My competence has never been questioned while holding my position," he said.

 

Marquez admitted that since leaving his post as SC spokesman, he has been able to devote more time to his duties as court administrator.

 

"I will continue to function the best way I know," Marquez said, stressing that unlike his spokesman post which was co-terminous with the chief justice, the court administrator post is a permanent one.

 

Marquez became court administrator in January 2010. Meanwhile, he was appointed SC spokesman and chief of the SC public information office in January 2007. —VS, GMA News