Gov. Edgar M. Chatto has strongly denied involvement in any Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) irregularity during his stint as a Bohol congressman. In the allocation of funds and implementation of projects, the then First District solon would always require compliance to standard government accounting and auditing rules and regulations. The executions of projects were handled by the concerned implementing agencies of government. In his letter to these agencies prior to any project implementation, Chatto had categorically stated that NGOs must comply with the standard auditing rules and regulations, policies and guidelines prescribed by law and the appropriate agencies to qualify as project implementer, the then congressman stressed.

Such a proviso, if not satisfied, would at the same time serve as a categorical objection to the participation of non-compliant bogus NGOs, much less the fake or bogus ones, Chatto emphasized. The agencies concerned would know which organizations are accredited by them after passing their due diligence tests and criteria. Chatto welcomed the audit report which the Commission on Audit (COA) promised to furnish all legislators after its completion to clear the names of those who are not involved. He noticed that in the COA Special Audit Report for 2007-2009, the condition precedent requiring compliance with COA rules, policies and guidelines was missing. Chatto thus sent a letter to COA bringing to its attention the absent proviso. The compliance should necessarily include the authenticity, legitimacy and accreditation of the NGOs. As a rule, a lawmaker is not supposed to meddle in project implementation.