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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Congressmen hit COA for leniency vs erring LGU

Congressmen hit COA for leniency vs erring LGU

Published Jan 27, 2025 10:07 am

At A Glance

  • Lawmakers on Monday, Jan. 27, scored the Commission on Audit (COA) for seemingly being lenient on the timeline when an agency or a local government unit (LGU) must act on its audit observation memorandum (AOM).

Lawmakers on Monday, Jan. 27, scored the Commission on Audit (COA) for seemingly being lenient on the timeline when an agency or a local government unit (LGU) must act on its audit observation memorandum (AOM).

Members of the House Committee on Public Accounts expressed "frustration" over why COA was taking so long to act against a certain agency or an LGU that had discrepancies in its use of funds, and did not respond to its audit recommendation.

An example is the case of the municipality of Mataas na Kahoy in Batangas.

Lawmakers are now conducting an inquiry into Mayor Janet Ilagan and Vice Mayor Jay Manalo Ilagan's offices' alleged misuse of public funds and irregularities in its operations.

In 2021, their offices spent millions of the local government's funds, and yet they cannot explain where the money was used.

Despite several memoranda issued by the COA in the last three years, questions on the use of these funds remain unanswered.

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano hit COA for apparently tolerating the municipality's non-compliance with its recommendation several years after flagging them.

"You're monitoring that financial report for the past three years, and now you're telling this committee that you're still monitoring? Ba't three years na wala pa kayong disallowances?" a visibly irked Paduano asked.

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Adiong said congressmen were frustrated because "While it is clear that there is a violation committed, we have not seen any concrete action by COA to finally hold those responsible violating certain policies accountable."

"Your main purpose is para bantayan yung pera ng gobyerno, pera ng taumbayan, kung ginagamit ba ito sa tamang pamamaraan," Adiong said.

(Your main purpose is to guard over government funds, public funds, and determine if these are being used correctly.)

"The way I understand it parang discretionary na lang kasi for the COA kung kailan magpapataw halimbawa ng kanilang recommendation (it seems it is only discretionary for COA when it implements its recommendation)," he added.

Related Tags

Commission on Audit zia adiong
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