The World Bank says it wants a refund by the end of this month of a portion of its $21.9-million (P953.3 million) loan to the Supreme Court, after a review uncovered the misuse of funds meant to support judicial reforms.
A bank memorandum submitted to Philippine officials last month said its review late last year found that the checks and balance mechanisms under the Judicial Reform Support Project (JRSP) had been diminished since mid-2010.
A copy of the bank’s report, released on Wednesday by the Department of Finance (DOF), showed that it sought a refund of $199,900 in “ineligible expenditures” to the Washington-based lender by Jan. 31, 2012.
The bank described the JRSP as a “high risk” project and said its financial statements “can no longer be relied upon.”
Demanding that heads should roll for the “scandalous” and “shocking” World Bank findings, Malacañang on Wednesday called on the Office of the Ombudsman to wade in and see if the report could be the basis of a graft complaint against concerned officials of the Supreme Court.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also seized the occasion to unleash another tirade against embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona in connection with the JRSP.
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