AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros sought special audit of all the projects of President GMA in her district in Pampanga as she revealed that the government may have spent hundreds of millions more to prepare for the 2010 campaign.

“She spent more than what was contained in the DPWH documents. We don’t expect the government to voluntarily divulge the information, thus the request for a special audit,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

She said that the annual audit report for 2009 would be released by mid-2010, so a special audit is necessary to disclose the amount spent by GMA in her district.

She cited GMA’s May 27, 2009 visit in Apalit and in Floridablanca where she inaugurated a P100-million bridge across the Porac-Gumain River. “This was not reflected in the DPWH document,” she said.

“During her visits, she inaugurated five water systems in Porac, Floridablanca, and Sta. Rita that insiders claimed to cost a maximum of P10 million each. In her visit to Kalantas, Floridablanca, she gave out checks for a total of P350,000 for livelihood projects,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

“So the question is – how much did she really spend in District 2 of Pampanga? Is she pouring her discretionary funds for these projects? Kailangan malaman kung san galing ang pera na ginagamit nya sa mga proyekto na ito,” Rep. Hontiveros said.

Rep. Hontiveros listed projects that were poured by GMA in her district during her visits:

• GMA service caravan (medicines, medical and dental services, seedlings, agri tools and seeds)
• Irrigation dam in Floridablanca (February 24)
• FMR and post-harvest facilities in San Basilio, Sta. Rita (April 30)
• Tesda scholarship Batang Dos (May 11)
• Plaza of Sta. Rita , multipurpose hall and bust of Macapagal, renovation of public market, FMR in San Isidro , multipurpose court in Becuran High School   (May 22)
• Water systems in Hacienda Dolores and Planas, Porac (June 15)
• P110 M for second and fourth district for repair of schools damaged by flood (Aug 6)

Rep. Hontiveros hopes that COA would grant the request and release the report before the printing of the ballots and in time for the COMELEC decision on the disqualification case.

“We do not contest the necessity of these projects. The point is that when a sitting president vies for any position – whether it is the presidency or as barangay captain – the fight is no longer fair,” Rep. Hontiveros said.####