Amidst calls from opposition deputies for “discontent” and for those who commit acts of corruption to be punished, the head of the Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF), David Colmenares Páramo, was presented this Tuesday in the Chamber of Deputies the second report. in the Public Account audit 2022, corresponding to the fourth year of the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, where possible irregularities were found in 7,175 million pesos.
This delivery includes 708 individual reports on reviews carried out by federal, state and municipal public entities that have used resources from the federal budget, and that are part of the 2,125 audits that the ASF has scheduled to be held to manage the 2022 Public Account, whose final report It will be presented in February 2024.
According to the report, of the total possible irregularities in the use of public spending, 1,386 million pesos have been recovered so far and 5,788 million pesos are still awaiting clarification.
Of the reports presented, the majority, 541, correspond to reviews made of federalized spending, which are federal resources used by state and municipal governments, Colmenares Páramo told the members of the Surveillance Commission, where the ASF is dependent.
And it is in the area of local governments where most of the possible anomalies were found, which is equivalent to 4,665 million pesos, added the senior auditor.
The package of reviews provided by Colmenares Páramo includes audits of the emblematic social programs of the López Obrador government, such as Young People Building the Future, Fertilizers for Well-being or The School is Ours.
In addition, it has audits of infrastructure projects such as the acquisition of the Deer Park Refinery by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
Referring to claims made by opposition representatives that the ASF initiates fewer complaints and actions to punish irregularities than in previous periods, Colmenares Páramo stated that the ASF maintains permanent meetings in the work with the audited entities and emphasizes that “clarification requests have decreased thanks. to the interaction with their work teams, which allows the observations generated to be clarified during the development of audits, which translates into a reduction in actions issued.
Deputy Pablo Angulo Briceño, president of the Surveillance Commission, said that “he cannot and should not politicize an issue as important as the control of resources” and assured that the deputies “support the ASF in making the audit.” in accordance with the law where there are clear results. The people of Mexico are waiting for a breakthrough in the fight against corruption.
Cristina Ruiz Sandoval, from the PRI parliamentary group, asked “how much support would have been given to Acapulco today if Segalmex had not happened. Certainly a good fortune,” she said, and asked Colmenares that “there will be consequences, that there is no satisfaction, that those who steal people’s money will be punished.”
Victoriano Wences Real, of the PT, stated that the latest results of the audit of the public accounts of the previous financial years showed results consistent with the project to combat waste, the diversion of resources and the absence public administration consciousness.
He said that it is necessary to recognize that “some irregular practices still exist, as ASF has documented, but we are open to following them and achieving final results, because we cannot ignore the social need to end corruption.”
Guillermo Octavio Huerta Ling, of the PAN, said that a few months before the presidential election it is important that the citizens “have objective data obtained from the inspection process that shows the inconsistencies of the current government, because yes there is, there is, and surely “There will continue to be.”
He said that the ASF “will be an important piece so that there is more information on how resources are spent, a movement has created an expectation without corruption and unfortunately it has not been achieved, so that those decisions are made with the greatest possible information for the next year.” “.
Martín Sandoval Soto, Morena, emphasized that projects such as the Maya Train or Dos Boscas refinery will continue to be audited and said that the ASF fulfills a cardinal function for the country. “The Fourth Amendment does not stop the role entrusted to the people of Mexico at the polls. To the people of Mexico and the country I say: the public resources must have a receiver, the people, and a purpose, their welfare.
