The Commission on Audit (COA) has the authority to inspect the vaults containing classified records and supporting documents related to confidential and intelligence operations when circumstances so demand, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson cited COA’s Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01, which provides that classified details and supporting documents of transactions kept in an agency’s vault may be inspected by the COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Unit (ICFAU) “if circumstances so demand.”
He cited the provision during his questioning of state auditor Xylene del Campo on whether the presence of numerous aliases in confidential and intelligence fund transactions could have warranted an inspection of the vault.
“Kung maraming aliases na nagdududa kayo, di ba natural lang, logically iisipin nyo na ma-inspection nga ang vault kung totoong tao ang nasa likod ng aliases (If you encounter many aliases and you harbor doubts, isn’t it natural and logical to inspect the vault to see if real people are behind the aliases)?” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson: COA, May Awtoridad na Siyasatin ang mga Vault na Naglalaman ng mga Record ng mga Taong Nasa Likod ng mga Alias
Under Paragraph 4.15.2 of the joint circular, expenses incurred in connection with an agency’s intelligence and/or confidential operations, as well as supporting documents and activities, must be supported by the required documentation. For intelligence funds, documentary evidence of payment is kept in a sealed envelope in the vault in the office of the Special Disbursing Officer (SDO).
Paragraph 4.15.3 specifies that details and supporting documents of classified transactions are in the custody of the agency and kept in its vault, “which may be inspected by ICFAU if circumstances so demand.”
“Hindi ba demand ng circumstances that you inspect the vault kasi ang daming aliases (Do circumstances not demand that you inspect the vault because there were so many aliases)?” Lacson said.
Lacson also pointed to a possible forensic benefit from such an inspection, noting that specimen signatures could have been obtained from the records and compared with known specimen signatures to check if the signatures were authentic or forged.
In an interview on DZBB radio last Sunday, Lacson said an inspection of the vault could have helped advance the inquiry into the identities behind the aliases.
“Sana kung ginawa nila yan malayo sana narating nila (If the COA had done that, it could have advance the inquiry),” he said.
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Lacson: COA, May Awtoridad na Siyasatin ang mga Vault na Naglalaman ng mga Record ng mga Taong Nasa Likod ng mga Alias
May awtoridad ang Commission on Audit (COA) na siyasatin ang mga vault na naglalaman ng classified records at supporting documents kaugnay ng confidential at intelligence operations kung kinakailangan, ayon kay Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Miyerkules.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01 ng COA, na nagsasaad na ang classified details at supporting documents ng mga transaksyong nakatago sa vault ng isang ahensya ay maaaring siyasatin ng COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Unit (ICFAU) “if circumstances so demand.”
Nabanggit ni Lacson ang probisyon sa kanyang pagtatanong sa state auditor na si Xylene del Campo kung ang pagkakaroon ng maraming alias sa mga transaksyong may kinalaman sa confidential at intelligence funds ay maaaring naging sapat na dahilan upang siyasatin ang vault.
“Kung maraming aliases na nagdududa kayo, di ba natural lang, logically iisipin nyo na ma-inspection nga ang vault kung totoong tao ang nasa likod ng aliases?” aniya.
Sa ilalim ng Paragraph 4.15.2 ng joint circular, ang mga gastusing may kaugnayan sa intelligence at/o confidential operations ng isang ahensya, gayundin ang mga supporting documents at aktibidad kaugnay nito, ay kailangang suportado ng mga kinakailangang dokumento. Para sa intelligence funds, ang documentary evidence of payment ay itinatago sa isang sealed envelope sa vault sa tanggapan ng Special Disbursing Officer (SDO).
Tinutukoy naman ng Paragraph 4.15.3 na ang mga detalye at supporting documents ng classified transactions ay nasa kustodiya ng ahensya at itinatago sa vault nito, “which may be inspected by ICFAU if circumstances so demand.”
“Hindi ba demand ng circumstances that you inspect the vault kasi ang daming aliases?” ani Lacson.
Itinuro rin ni Lacson ang posibleng forensic benefit ng naturang pagsisiyasat, dahil maaaring makakuha ng specimen signatures mula sa mga record at maikumpara ang mga ito sa mga kilalang specimen signature upang matukoy kung tunay o peke ang mga lagda.
Sa panayam sa DZBB radio nitong nakaraang Linggo, sinabi ni Lacson na maaaring nakatulong nang malaki ang pagsisiyasat sa vault upang umusad ang pag-alam sa mga pagkakakilanlan ng mga taong nasa likod ng mga alias.
“Sana kung ginawa nila yan malayo sana narating nila,” aniya.
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