I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR COA DISALLOWED PAYMENTS TO MEDCO
EMPLOYEES SOME
10 YEARS AGO.
Today, while here in Rome for peace talks with the CPP/NPA/NDF, I
received information that
the Commission on Audit (COA) ruled with finality the disallowance of
some disbursements
done while I was still head of a Mindanao agency more than 10 years
ago.
Sometime from 2001 to 2004, while chairman of MEDCO (Mindanao Economic
Development
Council), the finance department recommended to me to release P456,000
as staple food
assistance and P540,000 as amelioration allowance to officials and
employees during the
Christmas season or year-end, (if my memory is correct). This was to
augment their meager pay
and to give them incentives for a year’s good performance.
I now clearly recall I asked then finance division head (now retired)
Ms. Perla Pandan and the
executive committee officials as to whether this was allowed under the
rules and they assured
me this was okay. Then I asked what would be the consequence if this
was later disallowed by
COA, I was told all the recipients had to return what they received. I
was told this was
communicated to the whole staff. In fact, I now recall I even directed
the finance division to get
a written undertaking from the employees that they would return the
amount they received if
later on required to do so.
Subsequently, while still at MEDCO, I was informed that indeed the COA
disallowed the
disbursements. I promptly returned the amount I personally received. I
even wrote an official
letter in doing so and I received an official receipt acknowledging the
return of the amount. But
to further protect the employees and the staff who would find it
difficult to return theirs, I
authorized the move to seek reconsideration of the COA ruling.
Today, I was informed that COA with finality, denied MEDCO’s appeal and
ruled that I together
with other MEDCO officials are liable for the illegal release.
As sole approving authority, I personally take FULL responsibility and
spare the other
employees/officials from liability as ruled by COA. Although I already
returned what I personally
received myself while still at MEDCO years ago, I will promptly return
the remaining total
amount due from my own personal funds immediately upon my return to the
country. (PR/Posted by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News Philippines)
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