From left to right: Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin "Boy" Vargas Jr., SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PPAB)

The provincial government of Cagayan could face serious violations in connection with its unauthorized payment of some P16 million a year to Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao for Governor Manuel Mamba's local radio program. 

This was the sentiment of some solons who took part in a House Committee on Public Accounts investigation Monday, Aug. 7, regarding disbursement controversies in the province. 

Attending the inquiry was Cagayan Vice Governor Melvin "Boy" Vargas Jr., who heads the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Cagayan. The SP approves the annual budget of the province. 

During the panel hearing, Cagayan 3rd district Rep. Jojo Lara criticized Mamba's radio program, Caygandang Cagayan, for allegedly using it as a venue for "lambasting" and assailing his rivals. Lara also claimed that the official uses it to talk about "unnecessary topics". 

Asked by solons about the cost of the radio program, Vargas bared that there was no approval from the SP as far as disbursement of payment to the program is concerned. 

"Mr. Chair we called their attention for how many times, actually per year during the budget deliberations but they were not cooperating with us...They were not answering us if the payment is coming from the provincial government or not," he said.

To this, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said: "Since there is no authority given to the provincial governor as well as the accountant, and the budget officer to release payment for this program, from the beginning there's already a violation." 

"If public funds are being used for that program, and under the local government code there has to be an authority given by the Sanggunian," Barbers added. 

The vice governor also told the panel that he had called the attention of he Commission on Audit (COA), but nothing happened. 

"Mr. Chair, we also called the attention of COA, no less than the director himself issued a communication but we were not given the opportunity to, that they would appear in the Sanggunian," he said, adding that SP reached out to provincial COA "several times". 

This irked another congressman in SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, even as he agreed with Barbers' remarks. 

"Kung talagang wala (appropriation), ang laki po ng violation po ng lahat na involved dito (If there is really no appropriation, then all those involved have comitted a huge violation)," he said. 

"It appears Mr. Chair the appeals of the Vice Governor fell on deaf ears insofar as the provincial COA is concerned. Kasi po tama si Cong Barbers, hindi lang local government  (code) ang problema rito (Cong Barbers is correct, this isn't just about the local government code)...this is constitutional," he said. 

It was learned during the hearing that the provincial government's contract is worth P4 million for 105 days. 

"I think the Constitution tells us...no money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law. Maliwanag po yun. You are violating not only the local government code but you are violating the Constitution," said Marcoleta. 

"So kung wala pa lang appropriation, bayad nang bayad po kayo sa Bombo Radyo (So if there's no appropriation and you keep paying Bombo Radyo), and the COA despite the repeated calls is not doing anything, I do not know what COA is meant for," the former deputy speaker said. 

A vice chairman of the committee, Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. asked Bombo Radyo Tuguegarao to provide to the panel the receipts it has send to the provincial government this year and in 2022, which was an election year.