Compostela execs told to refund P50K incentives

CEBU, Philippines - For lack of supporting documents, Compostela, Cebu’s elective officials have been asked to refund the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentives totaling P50,000 that each of them received in 2012 and in 2013.

State auditors have told Mayor Joel Quiño, Vice Mayor Josephine Abing, Councilors Joy Ann Cabatingan, Tessa Cang, Wilfredo Calo, Francisco Oliverio, Homer Canen, Joven Amor, and Daisy Rell Lopez to pay back the P50,000, while Councilors Alfredo Cabatingan, Jose Cagang, Felijur Quiño, Glenn Villaceran and Mario Paradiang were told to refund P25,000.

In its 2013 audit report, the Commission on Audit found out that the CNA incentives, which were granted to officials and employees of the municipality in the amount of P1.6 million (2012) and P1.7 million (2013), were without supporting documents.

A total of P575,000 of the said amount were given to elective officials, in violation of the Department of Budget and Management circulars, resulting in irregular disbursements of government funds.

In the verification of the cash advance vouchers and paid payrolls for the CNA, COA found out  that there were no supporting documents attached, such as resolution authorizing the granting of the said benefits and statement of allotment obligations and balances showing the savings of the specific maintenance and other operating expenses items.

“In the absence of the above required documents the validity, legality and propriety of payment of the benefits to the officials and employees is doubtful,” COA said.

It also cited Section 3 of the said circulars, which covers those who are authorized to receive the said benefit such as government personnel occupying regular, contractual or casual positions, rendering services on full-time or part-time basis:

“In as much as the elective officials are not among those covered as enumerated in Section 3 of the said circular, they are deemed excluded in the grant of CNA incentive bonus, hence, the amount received by them are considered irregular and therefore disallowed in audit,” COA said.

It further said the town has already submitted some of the required documents requested by the Audit Team except for the refund of the amount received by the elective officials.

“We recommend that the officials concerned be directed to submit the required documents; otherwise, all those who authorized the payment of the subject allowance shall be held personally liable for the amount involved.  Likewise, the elective officials concerned are required to refund the amount received,” COA said. (FREEMAN)