What mismanagement of MMFF funds? - Bayani

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando belied Tuesday claims by Senate President Pro Tempore Jose “Jinggoy" Estrada that he had misused funds of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). In a radio interview, Fernando also said Estrada may have raised the issue because he wanted management of MMFF funds to go to his Movie Workers Welfare Fund (Mowelfund). "Wala akong nalalamang mismanagement diyan. Taun-taon lumalaki pa ang kinikita ng film festival sa kabila ng lumiliit ang taxes. Napakalaking oras inuubos ko sa film fest [I cannot recall any mismanagement of MMFF funds. Every year, the Film Festival sees a rise in earnings, despite lower taxes]," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also voiced suspicions Estrada raised the issue because he wants Mowelfund, which his father former President Joseph Estrada helped found, to handle the MMFF and its funds. But he said the MMFF funds are under the management of the MMDA by virtue of the law as early as the Marcos administration. "Baka yan ang motibo niya, gusto niya hawakan ang pamamahala nito. Ang problema, sa batas yan. Ang MMFF may EO yan noon pa panahon ng Pangulong Marcos, tinatadhana ang mangangasiwa ang chairman ng MMDA [Perhaps that is his motive for seeking the investigation. He wants to get his hands on the MMFF funds. But the problem is, a Marcos executive order already puts the management of MMFF funds in the MMDA chairman’s hands]," he said. "Ngayon palagay ko, kaya niya sinisilip gusto niyang sila mamahala sa festival na yan [I think he is bringing up the issue now because he wants to handle that festival]," he added. Fernando said he will let go of the MMFF in his capacity as MMDA chairman only when he resigns to run for President in 2010. "Automatic yan. Pag ako nag-file ng candidacy for president bibitiwan ko yan automatically [It’s automatic. Once I file my candidacy for president I’ll let go of that post]," he said. Estrada cited reports reaching the office that Fernando “gifted" himself during his birthdays with “cash," at least on three occasions, which amounted to an estimated P1.1 million. There were also purported questionable expenses by the MMDA chairman, where MMFF funds were used in the amounts of P1.9 million and P3.5 million sometime in 2003, the senator said. - GMANews.TV