DAVAO CITY, 17 March — Some officials of the Moro National Liberation Front indeed misused funds of the Southern Philippines Development Authority in the past three years, the current chief of the SPDA told a House committee hearing on Friday.
Administrator Zamzamin Ampatuan said the SPDA became a “milking cow” of some MNLF leaders close to Nur Misuari, then chief of the Southern Philippines Development Council for Peace and governor of the ARMM.
Ampatuan, however, clarified that he never said millions of SPDA funds were diverted to buy firearms for Misuari’s supporters who staged a revolt in Jolo, Sulu late last year.
In hearing conducted by the House committee on national defense in this southern city, Ampatuan said the SPDA funds were spent heavily on luxury hotels and lavish meals. “We are very sorry to admit that,” Ampatuan told the committee headed by Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur.
Rep. Prospero Nograles of Davao, who sought the investigation, said it was clear that the funds had been diverted since these could not have been used only on hotels and meals.
Randolph Parcasio, who headed the SPDA from April 2001 to November 2001 denied the allegations. “Our visitors didn’t stay in expensive hotels,” he told the committee.
But Pichay, convinced that there was mismanagement of funds, reminded Parcasio that he was under oath.
