Accountant: Thorough process was observed

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Acting Accountant Mark Salomon yesterday testified in the ongoing investigation into the release of P87 million in calamity assistance to city officials and employees that it underwent a “thorough process” in accordance with auditing and accounting rules.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government-7 investigation stemmed from an administrative case filed by lawyer Reymelio Delute against City Hall officials who had a hand in the release of P20,000 each to 4,200 city officials and employees.

Standing as the third witness for the city officials, Salomon narrated the procedure they observed in disbursing the amount.

City accountant for two years already, Salomon said one of their main functions was to review all disbursements, including the calamity assistance, made by the city.

He said administrative officers and department heads first issued certifications on the list of employees who had been appointed prior to October 15, 2013, the day a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Cebu.

The certification, Salomon continued, was transmitted to the Human Resource Department Office for payroll release.

The payroll and the certification were then forwarded to the City Budget Office for certification that the transaction was properly backed up with budget allocation.

After that, the documents were then submitted to his office for review, where they counterchecked the total amount stipulated in the payroll.

Salomon said their office then submitted the certified documents to the City Treasurer’s Office before they reached the Mayor’s Office for approval.

In his complaint, Delute alleged that release of the P87 million was questionable and constituted grave misconduct and abuse of authority because the recipients were not direct victims of the earthquake and the November 8, 2013 super typhoon. — (FREEMAN)