Accountable officers (AO's) of the Commission on Elections have continued to fail to liquidate cash advances of over P2.59 billion, most of which reportedly spent in previous elections.

The Commission on Audit, in its 2020 annual audit report for the Comelec, also disclosed that despite the unliquidated cash advances, the poll body’s accounting division continued to grant “multiple cash advances” to AO’s who have been negligent in justifying the expenditures for previous advances.

“The purpose for which the above cash advances were granrted have already been served, however, the same remain unliquidated as at August 31, 2020, contrary to the above cited regulations’” COA said referring to the provisions of Presidential Decree 1445.

State auditors recommended that immediate liquidation of outstanding cash advances be demanded from concerned AOs.

In response, Comelec officials said demand letters have already been sent to AO’s for the immediate liquidation of cash advances.

In the same annual audit report. COA noted an overpayment of P5.054 million it granted as honoraria for members of the Technical Working Group and the Bids and Awards Committee Secretary in 2019.

Furthermore, state auditors described as “wastage of government resources” the lease of 14 shuttle buses through negotiated procurement under emergency cases .

COA revealed that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Comelec leased 14 buses at a contract price of P9.744 million.

Auditors complained that the “use of seven or 50 percent” of the buses was not optimized”, pointing out that this is because average number of passengers per bus ranged only from “two to nine” for each day that it was used to ferry employees reporting for work.

Actually, the lease contract the poll body entered with the Classic Leisure International Travel and Tours provided for 14 units bus service with seating capacity of 45 to 50 person at P11,600 per day.

However, records showed that seven buses have only served an average of two to nine persons per day, “which was way below the maximum capacity allowed.”

In several instances in September, 2020, one bus assigned to the Bicutan to Comelec Main Office route and vice versa “had only one passenger,” COA revealed.

Responding to the adverse audit observation, the Comelec said it had opted to lease buses because shuttle services could only accommodate 50 per cent of seating capacity as called for by COVID-19 safety protocols.

Poll body officials also pointed out that out of the 1,016 employes of the main office, 682 wanted to avail of the shuttle service.