Return P8.6-M, World Bank tells SC
by Purple S. Romero, RAPPLER.com
January 13, 2012

 MANILA, Philippines – The World Bank has asked the Supreme Court to return a total of US$199,000 (P8.6-M) in “ineligible” funds by the end of January, saying the High Tribunal spent this on activities and projects not covered by a loan agreement between both parties.

In a Dec 28, 2011 letter addressed to SC Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, chair of the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) Management Committee, Matthew Stephens, acting WB country director, cited seven concerns and issues on how the High Tribunal used the US$21.9M loan (P903-M based on current rates) it granted the High Tribunal in 2003.

The WB-funded JRSP was developed to expedite case resolution and increase access to justice, among others. A team from the WB was in Manila from October 24 to Nov. 12, 2011, to review the projects attached to the loan.

Based on the team’s findings, the WB told the SC that out of the 133 transactions worth $5.5-M (P233.8-M), at least 70 transactions, or 53% of the total, were found to be “ineligible.” This means that the SC spent this on projects that were not in the procurement plan. Projects in the plan must be mutually approved.

A chunk of these ineligible funds went to the purchase of computers, with over P2 million used to buy laptops for different offices of the SC.

The WB also discovered that over P200,000 was spent for the airfare of SC officials.

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