COA: Capitol failed to liquidate P9.1M

CEBU, Philippines- The Commission on Audit discovered P9.1 million worth of unliquidated cash advances by Capitol employees and officials, some of whom are no longer connected with the provincial government.

For one, former governor and now Representative Gwen Garcia (Cebu, third district) has two unliquidated cash advances: P106,521.08 granted in 2008 and P298,490.40 on November 9, 2007.

Of the two advances, Garcia was only able to liquidate P83.46, bringing her total balance down to P404,928.02, COA said.

COA said 45 personnel with balances on their names were allowed to retire or resign “without settling first their unliquidated cash advances totaling P749,761.67, resulting to difficulty to locate them and demand liquidation thereof.”

COA reminded the Capitol of Section 5.8 of COA Circular No. 97-002 which states that “all cash advances should be fully liquidated at the end of the year,” and failure to do so shall constitute for the filing of malversation charge under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code.

From COA’s findings, there were 123 officers and employees of the Capitol and in province-run hospitals who still had to liquidate P9,122,916.60 in cash advances as of December 2014.

Garcia’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Francia, who resigned in 2013, still had a remaining balance of P399,857.35, which was released to her in five occasions from 2006 to 2013.

Former Provincial Board members Wenceslao Gakit, Victor Maambong and Victoria Corominas also had outstanding balances of P383,263.42; P298,718.88 and P242,137.38, respectively.

Dismissed employees like Rebecca delos Reyes and Roy Salubre also had unliquidated funds of P2 million and P120,000, respectively.

COA recommended to the Capitol to send demand letters to concerned individuals pursuant to Section 89 of Presidential Decree 1445 and COA Circular 97-02, and “appropriate sanctions” to those who refuse to comply despite final demand.  (FREEMAN)