OFF THE CUFF: $46 million “administrative errors”

FORMER FINANCE MINISTER of Frank De Lima has described events at the National Assistance Program (PAN) leading to the purchase of  $46 million in orders for grains at inflated prices as “administrative faults.”

Lima has been in custody since May 11. Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Tania Sterling. has claimed that the purchases were intentionally made so they would not exceed the threshold that would have triggered an automatic review.
“The contracts were intentionally done in parts,” Sterling said, noting that none of the contracts exceeded $300,000 that would have triggered a review by the National Assembly.
De Lima has denied any wrongdoing, but former ministry official Gladys Cedeno has told prosecutors that De Lima was the one who ordered the contracts not to exceed $299,000.
The investigation is still in the pre-trial stage.threshold that would have triggered an automatic review.

“The contracts were intentionally done in parts,” Sterling said, noting that none of the contracts exceeded $300,000 that would have triggered a review by the National Assembly.
De Lima has denied any wrongdoing, but former ministry official Gladys Cedeno has told prosecutors that De Lima was the one who ordered the contracts not to exceed $299,000.
The investigation is still in the pre-trial stage.