The spokespersons of the blocs of deputies of the Social Christian Reformist (PRSC) and Broad Front (FA) parties asked this morning the former presidents of the Chamber of Deputies Radhamés Camacho and Rubén Maldonado give explanations about the audit published last Tuesday by the Chamber of Accounts, where they point out alleged irregularities in their efforts.
Pedro Botello and Juan Dionisio Rodríguez Restituyo agreed that the most convenient thing for Camacho and Maldonado and for the image of the Chamber of Deputies would be for them to respond to the report of the Chamber of Accounts and give their versions of the events.
Botello considered it convenient to know all the details of the case because the irregularities disclosed by the Chamber of Accounts are not always acts of corruption.
“The Chamber of Accounts is the external control body in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the Republic and sometimes with a simple procedure the Chamber of Accounts declares an irregularity, but it does not always have to be a fact that involves an act of corruption. ”, maintained the legislator.
He added that “any explanation they have to give should be done responsibly, I don’t think they have any reason to be afraid, what they should do is clarify any type of information released by the Chamber of Accounts.”
John Dionysus
While the spokesman for the Broad Front, Rodríguez Restituyo, described as positive that the Chamber of Accounts, a body chosen by the deputies, also audits their actions.
He believed that if the Chamber of Accounts says there is some irregularity, Camacho and Maldonado should respond and give explanations accordingly.
“I do not know the report in detail, but if it is as the Chamber of Accounts is saying, they should explain for the good of Congress, for the integrity of Congress, because the oversight work of Congress, which is decisive for the balance of democracy in the Dominican Republic cannot be tarnished by any act, so they should be the first to clarify this situation that the Chamber of Accounts is establishing, for the good of democracy and of an institution such as the National Congress, which is above any another institution, it is the main power of the State,” said Rodríguez Restituyo, who is also president of the Broad Front.
The auditory
According to the expertise carried out on the financial statements of the Chamber of Deputies during the period between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, which covers the efforts of Camacho and Maldonado, when comparing the volumes paid with the works executed, payments greater than the amounts executed for RD$1,857,348 were identified.
It was said that errors would have been detected in records in the personal services account, for an amount of RD$198,360,000; expenses recorded in overtime and salary compensation to deputies, stipulated in resolution 02/10, of April/2018; likewise, an amount of RD$12,520,412 corresponding to an institutional birthday bonus, which was recorded in the unused vacation account.
Another of the alleged anomalies detected was that the Chamber of Deputies did not require from the works contractors the advance guarantee policy at the signing of the contract for the value of RD$45,835,121, the policy of faithful fulfillment of the contract for the value of RD$198,738 , and the hidden defects policy upon reception of the works for a value of RD$2,306,717.
Camera Accounts
He says that one of the irregularities in the 2018 and 2019 periods involves 198 million pesos in overtime payments.
You may be interested in reading: More than 50% State dependencies do not comply with the purchasing law
