COA asks Junjun Binay, others to return P45M worth of intel funds

The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered former Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay to return P45 million worth of intelligence and confidential funds (ICF) used by the city government in 2010 and 2013.

The COA named Binay, then-Acting City Administrator Marjorie de Veyra, and City Budget Officer Lorenza Amores in two notices of disallowance as the persons liable to refund the national government.

The COA said it disallowed the ICF of Makati City for its inclusion of the personal services of the Makati Public Safety Department (MPSD), which include the payment of allowances and purchase of firearms, and for Peace and Order Programs (POP).

The inclusion of personal services of the MPSD is "not allowed to be part of Peace and Order Programs" pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-65 dated April 23, 1999, according to COA.

Meanwhile, the Local Government Security Plan allows POPs such as anti-criminality activities, establishment of rehabilitation centers, improvement of streetlights, and the provision of prisoner's subsistence, among others.

The COA said local government units are required to secure presidential approval first before using its ICF and are only allowed to allot 30 percent of its intelligence funds to POPs per year.

However, government auditors found that Makati City had an excessive disbursement of its ICF worth P20 million for the second semester of 2010.

The COA said the 2010 ICF had the nod of then-President Benigno S. Aquino III but was still excessive since it went beyond the 30 percent threshold of the P50 million it received.

The commission further said the P25-million ICF of Makati City in 2013 "has no basis due to lack of the approval of the President."

This disallowance is on top of COA's demand for Binay and his father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr., to return P2.29 billion spent by the city government for the construction and design of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Parking Building. 

The father-and-son are also facing multiple charges at the Sandiganbayan in connection with the same project.

GMA News Online is still reaching the camp of Binay for comment as of posting time.   —KBK, GMA News