The Malabon City government has denied allegations that it failed to submit documents for the P37.6 million in expenses flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2023 annual report.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 2, the city’s Public Information Office (PIO) addressed the issue which gained traction on social media on March 31, following a news report claiming that the city government did not provide crucial documents such as payroll records, daily time reports, and project proposals for certain disbursement vouchers.
The PIO clarified that the report cited a possible violation of Section 7.1.1 of COA Circular No. 2009-006, which holds agency heads responsible for managing government funds and property.
The regulation mandates the timely submission of financial reports, settlement of disallowed expenses, resolution of suspended transactions, and prompt action on audit findings.
City Administrator Dr. Alexander Rosete dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that all required documents were submitted in 2023 and there was no failure in compliance.
“Agad po nating inimbestigahan ang nasabing isyu na ito at ngayon ay sinigurong kumpleto at handa ang mga dokumento na ating ipinasa sa COA. At ngayon, masasabi po nating wala pong isyu ng pagkabigo sa pagpasa ng kaukulang dokumento para sa mga naging proyekto ng pamahalaang lungsod noong 2023 (We immediately investigated this issue and we assure everyone that all necessary documents submitted to the COA are complete and in order. At this point, we can confidently say that there is no issue regarding the failure to submit the required documents for the city's projects in 2023),” he said.
He also clarified that COA allows local government units (LGUs) time to complete supporting documents post-audit if needed and reiterated that the city government, under Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, remains committed to proper financial documentation and transparency.
"Ang mga lokal na pamahalaan po ay binibigyan ng COA ng oras upang makumpleto ang mga dokumentong sumusuporta sa paggamit ng pondo—kung kailanganin man matapos ang isinagawang nilang audit. Nais ng pamahalaang lungsod, sa pangunguna ni Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, na masigurong kumpleto, tama, at maayos na maibibigay sa COA ang mga dokumento na kailangan kada taon. Tayo naman po ay patuloy na nakikipag-ugnayan sa ahensya (The local government units are given time by the COA to complete the documents supporting the use of funds—if necessary, after their audit has been conducted. The city government, under the leadership of Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, aims to ensure that the required documents are complete, accurate, and properly submitted to the COA every year. We continue to coordinate with the agency," Rosete added
The city government also explained that financial reports are managed by several departments, not just the Office of the City Mayor, to ensure a thorough review before they are submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA).
It also condemned an article suggesting that COA's heightened scrutiny of local government expenditures during the election period implied political motivations, arguing there was no evidence linking the flagged expenses to election-related issues or irregularities.
The local government highlighted its consistent recognition for good governance including, the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for two consecutive years (2023-2024), an award recognizing excellence in areas such as financial administration, disaster preparedness, health compliance, social protection, and more.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/10/26/dilg-cites-malabon-lgu-for-excellence-in-public-service
https://mb.com.ph/2024/11/14/malabon-lgu-gets-seal-of-good-local-governance-from-dilg-1
Furthermore, in February 2025, the city was also recognized by the DILG-National Capital Region as a Good Financial Housekeeping Passer, a title it also earned in 2023.
The recognition is awarded to local government units that demonstrate transparency and accountability in public spending, as shown by receiving an unmodified or qualified opinion on COA’s Annual Audit Report and complying with the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP).
“Sa ngayon ay ating ipagpapatuloy ang pagbibigay ng tapat at maayos na serbisyo para sa ikabubuti ng buhay ng mga Malabueno. Makasisiguro po kayo na ang pondo ng ating lungsod ay ating inilalaan sa mga proyektong nakatuon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan tungo sa mas progresibong Malabon (At present, we will continue to provide honest and efficient service for the improvement of the lives of our fellow Malabueno. You can be assured that the funds of our city are allocated to projects focused on the needs of the citizens, leading towards a more progressive Malabon),” the City Administrator said.