The Commission on Audit (COA) has raised an alarm over the series of deaths of government-owned buffalos that are loaned out to farmer organizations for their dairy production.

It then asked the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) to conduct a probe.

While COA mentioned in its decision "series of death of buffalos," it did not cite other cases of deaths of the dairy animals except that which was raised in a petition for review filed by PCC.

"This Commission is alarmed [by] the series of deaths of buffalos occurring while the same are in the custody of private individuals. In this regard, this Commission exhorts PCC, CLSU to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter to prevent further loss of government property and submit a report thereon," the COA said in a decision.

The decision was issued on a petition for review filed by PCC which was represented by Director Dr. Daniel L. Aquino.

PCC sought a relief from accountability for the loss of one of its female Italian Mediterranean buffalo which died in 2017 while on loan to a farmers' association.

The buffalo was lent to Manuel G. Torre, a member of the Dipaculao Dairy Farmers Association, through the "paiwi" scheme wherein a female dairy buffalo is given to a recipient who will take care of and use it for specific purposes. While the buffalo's custody is transferred to a qualified recipient, its ownership and accountability remain with the PCC.

In the decided case, the buffalo died of Fasciolosis (a disease caused by parasites) on April 25, 2017. When Aquino requested for relief, the COA Regional Office No. III issued a decision dated June 26, 2020 and denied his request for relief in the amount of P315,803.66.

The COA's regional office said that the buffalo's death was not due to a fortuitous event. It also said that Fasciolosis was preventable and treatable, and there was a "clear lapse" in the prevention, detection, and treatment of Fasciolosis.

In his petition for review, Aquino told COA's central office that there was no negligence on his part and the regional office's decision should be reconsidered for just and humanitarian considerations.

COA's main office found merit in Aquino's petition. "This Commission finds no fault or negligence on the part of Dr. Aquino that may have contributed or caused the death of the buffalo. The record shows that Dr. Aquino and the custodian exercised due diligence in taking care of the buffalo," it said.

It also said that "the buffalo was dewormed and vaccinated during its lifetime, as shown in the Individual Animal Record of the subject buffalo. Moreover, there is no showing that the buffalo was improperly grazed or negligently exposed to dangerous pathogens."