COA tells Monico to return P37M fund

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed the decision of its local office ordering former Bacolod City mayor Monico Puentevella to return to the government the P36.778-million financial assistance he received from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in 2005.

In a decision dated Nov. 9, the COA main office dismissed for “lack of merit” the petition for review filed by Puentevella on the Notice of Disallowance (ND) issued by the COA National Government Sector (NGS) Cluster 1- Bacolod City on Jan. 30, 2014.

Based on the COA records, Puentevella as then head of the Bacolod Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (BASOC), received from the PSC a total of P50.5 million as the city was chosen to be one of the venues for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

The financial assistance was for the supposed renovation and installation of flood lights at the Paglaum Sports Complex (PaSC) as well as for other operating expenses in hosting the sports events.

The COA affirmed the findings of its local office that most of the contracts entered into in connection with the SEA Games hosting, lacked the required supporting documents such as cost estimates, project specifications, detailed plans/scope of work and and deliverables prepared by the contractor and approved by BASOC.

Among the declared expenses found to be lacking with supporting documents were the construction, installation, dismantling and removal of weightlifting facilities at the Bacolod Convention Plaza as well as the rehabilitation and refurbishing of PaSC including its football field.

The COA dismissed Puentevella’s argument that the successful hosting of the events leads to the conclusion that there was actual accomplishment of the improvements of the facilities.

“This Commission finds the above arguments unavailing. Section 4 of PD (Presidential Decree) No. 1445 provides [that] claims against government funds shall be supported with complete documentation,” the COA ruling read.

“From the foregoing, it is clear that submission of the pertinent documentary requirements is indispensable, whether or not the procurement was made through public bidding or any alternative mode of procurement. While petitioner submitted several documents furnished by the contractors/suppliers, the same were not sufficient to determine the reasonableness of the actual costs incurred by BASOC,” it added.