THE government will ask the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to account for the P5 million it received for the Bangsamoro Management and Leadership Institute (BLMI) to put to rest concerns of fund misuse, Malacañang said on Wednesday.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda made the statement in a radio interview, while responding to allegations circulated by what he called a “very malicious” text message that the amount was used to enhance the armed capability of the MILF.
Asked if the government will seek an audit of the P5-million release, Lacierda said, “Yes, we are requiring [an audit]. The government, through Dean Marvic Leonen, is asking for an accounting. We will be expecting some report on the outcome of the P5 million… where it went. We hope that the MILF will also clarify its part.”
He clarified that the release of the P5-million fund to the MILF was never kept from the public and was even announced in press statements issued by Leonen himself.
“This is public knowledge,” Lacierda said.
He expressed dismay over the circulation of a text message claiming that President Aquino had given P5 million—and not P5 billion—to the MILF during his meeting with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim in Tokyo in August, and that the amount was supposedly spent on further arming the MILF.
Lacierda said the circulation of the text message was apparently timed to fuel public sentiments over the death of 19 soldiers in an encounter in Basilan last week.
When asked, Lacierda said there is no need to conduct a loyalty check in the Armed Forces as “the military continues to be a professional organization through the leadership of General [Eduardo] Oban and through President Aquino.”
Leonen said in a press statement that the P5-million fund was intended to jump-start the BLMI, a training center for future Bangsamoro leaders and managers.
“The P5 million is a commitment made by the previous administration. It is intended to fast-track the establishment of the institute,” he said.
Leonen said he handed the P5-million check to Murad during the parties’ last round of formal exploratory talks on August 22 and 23 in Kuala Lumpur, which he announced during the August 23 news conference held by the government panel.
He said the establishment of BLMI was discussed during negotiations at the 10th Formal Exploratory Talks in February 2006, and was finalized and formally agreed upon during the 14th formal exploratory talks held on November 14 and 15, 2007, with funding commitment from the government to jump-start the institute’s operations.
It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission that enabled it to receive assistance from donor institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
Jica gave funds for the construction of the building that will house the institute.
Leonen added that Mr. Aquino approved the appropriation for the BLMI during the consultation with the panel early this year.
“During his one-on-one meeting with Chairman Murad in Tokyo last August 5, the President again expressed his support to the BLMI. He then instructed the peace panel to hand the check to the Moro group,” he said.
Leonen stressed that the government “will not let false reports undermine the peace process.”
“I urge the public to stay heedful of what is happening and analytical of the information that they receive,” he said.
