The Commission on Audit has called the attention of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur for failing to return over P18.451 million in unused Priority Development Assistance Fund in 2015.
The provincial government claimed it was not aware of a 2013 ruling of the Supreme Court declaring pork barrel funds as unconstitutional.
CoA, however, did not give credence to the province’s defense, saying ignorance of the law was not an excuse and that the PDAF’s unconstitutionality was widely publicized.
The province kept the money in its coffers in violation of the high court’s decision that unspent pork barrel funds must be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury.
“The disbursements/release of the remaining PDAF funds allocated for the year 2013, as well as for all other years are hereby enjoined,” CoA said.
“The remaining PDAF funds covered by this injunction shall not be disbursed/released but instead reverted to the unappropriated surplus of the general fund.”