COA: Probe ex-MMDA chair

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has recommended that a former Metropolitan Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman be investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman over a P6.99-million anomaly in the MMDA.

In a Jan. 10 order, the COA Commission Proper denied consolidated petitions for review by the MMDA seeking the reversal of a Notice of Disallowance issued on Oct. 3, 2016 by its audit team.

Emerson Carlos, along with two other MMDA officials, allegedly approved during his time as chairman on Feb. 12, 2016 the disbursement of a retention fee of P6,989,248.92 to private contractor William L. Tan Construction (WLTC).

The retention fee was questioned by the COA and had been a subject of its audit team’s disallowance in a COA Decision No. 2012-165 dated as far back as Oct. 15, 2012 over contract price variance, erroneous computation of liquidated damages, and incomplete supporting documents.

The retention fee was for WLTC’s design and construction of Metro Manila’s various steel bridges during the Arroyo administration in 2004 and originally part of the P37.255 million total payment to WLTC.

The MMDA issued a check amounting to P6.9 million as payment of the  retention fee based on a spurious “COA order” dated Feb. 10, 2016 stating that the COA granted the claim for payment of WLTC.