Arreza ready to face senate inquiry tomorrow

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armans Arreza said he is ready to face any investigation by the senate or house of representative in relations to the Commission on Audit report listing him as the top official who took home the biggest paycheck in 2009 with P26.9million.

The senate probe which is schedule tomorrow will look into the CoA report and would get straight answer from Arreza and other listed in the report.

Arreza said that if the Senate would like to look into the report he would give his full cooperation to the authorities.

Arreza said he is taking advantage of this “unwarranted publicity” to shed light on the issue.

He clarified that his monthly take-home pay is only P95,449 from his gross income of P130,888.77 per month and not 26.9 million.

“Maganda rin namang mapag-usapan ito, dahil kailangang maging transparent talaga kung magkano ang sweldo ng mga empleyado ng pamahalaan, said Arreza. “Palagay ko naman ay karamihan sa amin ay nais ring kumita ng marangal ,” he added.

According to Arreza, the CoA mistakenly included SBMA operational funds for extraordinary, miscellaneous and intelligence purposes with his personal income, resulting to a bloated salaryof P26.9-million.

He identified these operational funds as the P15-million intelligence fund, which he said was actually determined by the Office of the President, and some P18-P19 million in SBMA’s extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses last year.

Arreza explained further that he cannot use these funds for personal benefit, since the CoA undertakes pre-auditing of the funds prior to disbursement. Arreza also said that his name, as well as those of others in CoA’s list of highest-paid public officials, should be cleared once proven that their inclusion resulted from some mistake.

Arreza in recent statements said that he would give way if President Noynoy Aquino appoints someone new to replace him.

Two weeks ago 12 out of the 15 board of  directors of SBMA were terminated after Malacanang issued EO2, only SBMA Director Ted Del Rossario, SBMA Chairman Felciano Salonga and SBMA administrator compose the board of SBMA.

To date not official replacement has been announced.