STATEMENT OF SENATE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN M. DRILON
ON THE SENATE BLUE RIBBON INQUIRY ON THE PDAF ISSUE

Over the past three weeks, our people have expressed shock and dismay over the reported P10 billion PDAF scandal that allegedly involved some members of Congress. We heard the people's loud clamor for accountability from us and they will not be denied. We will hold ourselves accountable.

The Senate had decided early on that indeed, an investigation must be conducted to ferret out the truth. However, we did not find it necessary to conduct a parallel investigation at the time but we agreed that the ongoing investigation by the Commission on Audit, the Department of Justice and the Ombudsman be allowed to continue with our commitment to fully support their investigations. Now that COA has completed its Special Audit on the PDAF from 2007 to 2009, it is time for the Senate, through its Blue Ribbon Committee to conduct public hearings, in aid of legislation, on the utilization of the PDAF, to review the need to fund the PDAF in 2014 and beyond and to immediately recommend the adoption of strict guidelines in the use of the PDAF, among others. It is time our people are informed about the details of that special audit.

I enjoin my colleagues in the senate to respond fully to the questions raised by COA's findings. We are accountable to our people and they deserve no less each than everyone's full explanations to these questions.