The chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts lauded on Thursday, Oct. 7 the decision of the Commission on Audit to suspend action on complaints against 2022 election candidates that may require the creation of fraud or special audit teams.

Probinsyano Ako Partylist Rep. Jose “Bonito” C. Singson Jr. said COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo and Commissioner Roland Pondoc were correct in issuing Resolution No. 2021-024 on September 28.

Aside from putting on hold the formation of fraud and special audit teams, Res. No. 2021-024 also provides that execution of decision be held in abeyance if it is about appealed cases involving candidates or partylist nominees vying in next year’s polls.

“In issuing the resolution, COA will avoid being unjustly accused of meddling in politics by favoring or disfavoring a party who is a candidate next year. The audit agency should be lauded for exercising prudence and fairness,” he said.

“This decision of our auditors should not be misinterpreted as an act of avoiding their duty of guaranteeing transparency and integrity in financial dealings of government. We totally agree that it is of COA’s interest to insulate itself from politics or any perception of partisanship,” he explained.

According to Singson the COA has not wavered in pursuing its constitutional mandate. He pointed out that forming fraud and special audit teams will resume immediately after the May 9 polls.

Execution of decisions will also re-commence after election day.

In COA Resolution No. 2021-024, COA said the twin moves is necessary in order “to uphold its political neutrality or remove a slightest semblance of partiality by implementing measures aimed at preventing opportunities and circumstances that may impair the independence, neutrality and professionalism of the commission, its officers and employees.” The state audit agency noted that aside from the rush of filing of complaints against candidates immediately before or during an election year, there has also been an upsurge of follow-ups on appeals or petitions involving candidates and partylist nominees.

COA said that the “immediate but untimely action on these complaints/requests and appeals/petitions would create a dangerous impression that the Commission” is giving advantage or disadvantage to a candidate.

The COA-CP resolution was adopted amid calls from various quarters, including senators, for the conduct of a special or fraud audit on the expenditures involving the P42-billion fund transferred by the Department of Health to the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management in 2020.

An ongoing Senate inquiry into the PS-DBM purchases involving the DOH funding has brought serious concerns about alleged overpricing of face shields and face masks.

In its annual audit reports for the PS-DBM and DOH, COA did not indicate any findings of overpricing or fraud but Aguinaldo explained that their main concern in the audit of the fund was focused on the delivery of goods for the payment released by government.