MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate has asked the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the multi-billion peso budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). In a letter to COA chairperson Michael Aguinaldo dated August 24, Zarate raised several questions—including legality concerns—regarding the budget given to NTF-ELCAC. ADVERTISEMENTOne of Zarate’s concerns was whether or not the initial funding of the NTF-ELCAC was lawful or in accordance with COA rules. “Is it legal that budget be taken from the [General Appropriations Act] for an entity created by the Executive that has not been appropriated fund by Congress?” Zarate asked COA. Zarate likewise asked COA for an audit of the NTF-ELCAC expenditure for 2019.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 26, 2020 03:44 UTC