ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Wednesday maintained her innocence over the alleged irregularities in the use of millions of pesos worth of tobacco excise funds from 2011 to 2012 to acquire vehicles using cash advances.
At the resumption of the hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on good government and public accountability led by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Marcos dismissed as baseless the alleged misuse of P66.45 million worth to purchase mini-cabs, buses and mini-trucks by the provincial government.
Marcos said the purchase using cash advances was legal as validated by the Commission on Audit.
“Ang sinabi ko ang cash advances, hindi ibig sabihing ibinubulsa ang cash. Ito ay legal na pamamaraan ng pagbabayad ng gobyerno at kinikilala rin ng batas natin. Ang isinasaad lamang kailangan na ang cash advances ay for specific purpose at liquidated fully and quickly for a specific purpose,” Marcos told lawmakers.
She was accompanied by former senator Juan Ponce Enrile who also serves as her counsel on the matter. Former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Romualdez-Marcos and her brother, former senator Ferdinand Marcos, was also with her.
“Wala namang adverse findings sa kanilang report at advice ng local finance na cash on delivery ang terms ng payment, [kaya] ginawa naming cash advance. Kaya hindi ko masasabi na prohibited cash advance ito dahil pumasa sa CoA audit, post-audit at walang notice of suspension,” Marcos said.
She said the purchase of the vehicles of the provincial government was aboveboard.
“Kumpleto naman ang vehicles, resibo, wala namang reklamo ang suppliers. Kumpleto, walang anomaly. They said all vehicles were there. I have no reason to believe otherwise,” Marcos said.
She lamented that the issue, which started as a “political conflict,” ended as “personal.”
“I am not sure why it ended up here in the House [of Representatives]. It’s a political conflict in Ilocos Norte that turned into a personal one,” Marcos said.
“It started off that way. I think it’s gone beyond that.”
House majority floor leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas earlier filed HR 882 to investigate Marcos.
The resolution says the alleged highly irregular purchase of motor vehicles worth P66.5 million was done through alleged cash advances without the benefit of public biddings.
