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The audit committee said officials were “obliged to refund the amounts paid”
Manila, Philippines—— Audit Commission The Philippine Court of Auditors said a former official of Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, was responsible for unusual purchases worth P8.93 million.
In a recent ruling, the Commission on Audit en banc denied the motion for reconsideration filed by former municipal administrators Roy Ortiz and Jose Balagtas and Bid and Award Committee (BAC) member Susana Santos in relation to the notice of impermissibility.
The notices were issued in 2020 for the purchase of a generator worth P5.9 million in 2008 and two motor vehicles worth P3.03 million in 2009. Upon investigation, it was found that the two transactions were not subject to public bidding, and the vehicles purchased – a Kia Cosmos van and a Kia Frontier ambulance – were more than 10 years old.
According to a notification issued by the Department of Budget and Management, the maximum age for purchasing a used car should not exceed seven years.
In 2011, a special audit team found both vehicles to be inoperable and abandoned.
The NAO said the officials were “obliged to refund the amounts paid”.
The report also said Ortiz, Balagtas and Santos failed to explain why favorable letters of credit were issued to power generation supplier Shing Heung Corp on at least four occasions. Months ahead of the purchase request and even ahead of the BAC’s 2009 resolution.
The state auditor also found that only P5.68 million was paid for the generator, while the remaining P200,000 or so was given as commission to a local dealer.
In addition to the three, COA previously held former mayor Alvin Vergara, former accountant Norma Serapio, engineer Arnand Dagamac, BAC chairperson Alfredo Ilagan, budget officer Laureta Jacinto, real estate inspector Evangeline Batisan, and vendors Richard Olalia and Melchor Martinez accountable. – Rappler.com
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