KINONDENA ng isang Muslim administration lawmaker ang umano’y korapsyon sa kuwestyunableng paggamit ng pondo ng Office of the Chief Minister ng Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) na nagkakahalaga ng P100 milyon.

Sa isang privilege speech sa sesyon ng plenaryo ng Kamara de Representantes noong Martes ng gabi, sinabi ni Lanao del Sur Rep. Ziaur -Rahman “Zia” Alonto Adiong na batay sa ulat ay nagulat ang may 400 opisyal ng barangay sa kanyang probinsya dahil mayroong malaking halaga na pumasok sa kanilang mga account sa Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

“More than 400 barangay officials of Lanao del Sur woke up with their LBP accounts containing money, ranging from P500,000 to as much as P2.5 million. Later, officers from BARMM OCM told them to withdraw a big chunk of the money and just leave P200,000 behind,” ani Adiong.

Ang pera ay galing umano sa BARMM at nakalaan para sa “special operations” na hindi maipaliwanag kung ano.

“This is a grave and urgent matter that threatens the core principles of good governance, accountability, and the sacred trust placed in us by the people of the BARMM,” saad ng Assistant Majority Leader.

Duda ni Adiong ang pondo ay kinuha sa local government support fund, kung saan may kabuuang halagang P6.3 bilyon ang nakalaan para sa BARMM sa ilalim ng Bangsamoro Autonomy Act 56, o ang General Appropriations Act of the Bangsamoro.

Sinabi ni Adiong, isa sa mga lider ng “Young Guns” ng Kamara na hindi maaaring basta na lamang gamitin ang naturang pondo batay sa Bangsamoro Budget Circular 10 (Series of 2024), at sa DBM Local Budget Circular 155 (Series of 2024).

“This portion of both circulars was clearly not followed according to civil society watchdogs,” sabi ni Adiong.

Batay sa circular, kailangan ng Special Budget Request mula sa mga Local Chief Executive bago maipalabas ang naturang pondo.

“The BARMM version of the budget circular also pales in comparison to its national counterpart especially when it comes to transparency, just and equitable distribution, and reportorial requirements,” sabi ng solon.

“The allocation of such funds without formal requests or detailed implementation plans violates key provisions of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Government Procurement Reform Act, which require strict adherence to budgeting and procurement processes,” dagdag pa ni Adiong.

“I call upon the leadership of BARMM, local government officials, and all stakeholders to work collaboratively in addressing these issues.”

“Together, let us institute reforms that will safeguard public funds, strengthen accountability, and restore the confidence of our people in the government’s ability to serve their needs effectively and fairly,” dagdag pa nito.