Media slam Philippine audit official

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 20, 2010) – Local journalists have decried the arrogance of a senior government official who was accused of berating a radio reporter while trying to get an interview.

Roberto Marquez, regional director of the Commission on Audit in Western Mindanao, berated Santos Cortez, of the Radio Mindanao Network, who phoned the official Wednesday and introduced himself politely.

The reporter told Marquez that he wanted to interview him on several issues, but the official, his voice slightly rose and said: “I don’t know if what you’re saying is true, I am in the blind, I do not know who the hell you are. You maybe a kidnapper or an extortionist, you better come to my office and show your face and I can talk to you.”

“On the phone, I do not know who the devil you are? You maybe using somebody else’s name, how could I verify this? I am not sure who I am talking to and if you want to discuss anything with me, but who the hell I am talking to? You come to my office and I will talk to you,” Marquez said.

The whole conversation was later aired by the Radio Mindanao Network and drew various reactions from the public. The radio station said it would file a complaint with the Commission on Audit central office in Manila and the Civil Service Commission.

Francisco Duque, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said he will have the matter investigated and also urged the radio network to file a complaint with the Commission on Audit under Chairman Rey Villar.

“We should bring this matter also Chairman Rey Villar, of the Commission on Audit, so he can order an investigation into this director. This director is shameless as if he is not a public servant,” Duque said.

“He should resign because his behavior is unethical and there is no room for arrogant people in public service. President (Benigno) Aquino should act on this,” said Joseph Zosobrado, a television cameraman.

“He is a bad example to civil servants. He should not be in the government service,” said Jung Francisco, manager of the regional newspaper, Mindanao Examiner.

It was the second time that a civil employee was criticized for their unethical behavior.

A senior employee of the Philippines’ National Statistics Office in Zamboanga City was also criticized after she shouted at a man trying to get legal documents.

The National Statistics Office is a recognized world-class provider of statistical and civil registration products and services.

The whole scene was recorded on a cell phone and uploaded in the Internet video sharing websiteyoutube.com and can be accessed on this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qD7WPsh2hw.

The unidentified woman was so angry at the man that she started shouting at him and in front of many clients while her microphone is turned on.

Various comments and criticisms were posted on the YouTube channel of Johoranz, who was believed to have uploaded the video on June 11. The video was branded as “NSO Zamboanga Scandal.”

“You can see (in this video) the kind of civil servants we have at the NSO Zamboanga. It was so shameful and almost all people wanting to get legal documents at this government agency were berated and shouted by this woman,” he said on his YouTube channel which can also be access on this URL http://www.youtube.com/user/johonranz. (Mindanao Examiner)

Auditors unearth fund mess in ARMM

The Commission on Audit has called the attention of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the P464.38 million the local government has deposited with a bank.

State auditors in their 2008 report said they couldn’t verify the existence of the funds because of the local government’s failure to submit an updated statement from the bank.

The ARMM had a P9.07-billion budget in 2008, which funded the operations of the regional governor and 23 line agencies, auditors said.

Of the P464.38 million in cash in bank, at least P464.12 million came from the department of education.

The local Education department has 14 local bank accounts for its operations, 11 bank accounts for its general fund, and one account each for the Bureau of Madaris or the local fund, the provident fund and a special project.

Auditors said they received financial statements from nine out of the 14 bank accounts for the period ending November 30. They said they did not get statements from the five other accounts.

All the 14 accounts were with the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines. Government agencies are required to update their bank statements monthly.

Apart from the discrepancy in the 2008 annual audit report, the CoA said there was a P180.98-million unreconciled difference between the balance in the LGUs books and that of the bank accounts for the years 2005 to 2007 for the general fund alone.

The ARMM has the lowest literacy rate in the country, with a functional literacy rate of only 62.9 percent as of 2003. The region with the second lowest literacy rate is the Zamboanga Peninsula with a functional literacy rate of 74.8 percent.

Apart from the problems with the ARMM LGUs cash in bank, the CoA also noted that P25.18 million worth of travel expenses were not liquidated in 2008 and that the P54.13 million valuation for property, plant and equipment “net of depreciation cannot be ascertained when the management failed to reconcile with the Physical Inventory Report and to conduct physical inventory.

The 2008 CoA report on ARMM, however, said the regional government had several impact projects that were spread out in the entire region in 2008: P176.68 million of which represent so-called regional impact projects such as farm to market roads, a multi purpose building, a municipal building, a gymnasium, a public market and a two-storey school building; P205.33 million worth of provincial impact projects such as road widening and drainage, a capitol building, farm to market roads, a slaughter house, a culvert drainage system, a gym a school among others; P238.05 million of district impact projects such as a waiting shed, a basketball court, a gym, a public market, a cultural center, a town plaza and roads among others. (Eileen Mencias - Manila Standard Today)


Link:http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2010/february/13/nation2.isx&d=2010/february/13

Audit calamity and intelligence funds, solons ask COA

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the House Committee of Appropriations has asked the Commission on Audit to monitor all the calamity and intelligence funds used by local government units all over the country.

Representative Teodolo Coquilla (Lone District, Eastern Samar) made the call during the hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on COA's proposed P4.066-billion 2010 budget.

Coquilla said some local government units are declaring state of calamities in their own localities even if the typhoon that passed their province was not that strong or destructive.

Coquilla cited the provincial government of Eastern Samar as one of the provinces that declared a state of calamity, thus was able to spend the province's P100 million-calamity fund.

Appearing before the house body, COA Chairman Reynaldo Villar said the agency would create a team that would look into the issue.

Villar said the commission would base the investigation or auditing on the request that Coquilla would file at the COA office.

"Upon receipt of a complaint or request of an auditing for a calamity fund, the commission may create an investigating team that would look into the matter," Villar said.

Coquilla said several sectors including the church people in the province have been asking how the P100 million-calamity fund, which was still available in February this year, was used by the local government.

Meanwhile, Representatives Darlene Custodio (1st District, South Cotabato) and George Arnaiz (2nd District, Negros Oriental) also asked COA to audit the intelligence funds allegedly released to cities and municipalities all over the country.

Arnaiz said there is a law that governs the limits in releasing or issuing intelligence funds but some cities go beyond the limit because they are being given an exemption by the Department of Interior and Local Government.

"Does the COA have any authority to somehow limit the amount of the intelligence funds being released to LGUs so that it will not be subject to abuse by abusive local executives?" Arnaiz asked.

Arnaiz also cited one small city in Negros Oriental that allegedly received a P700-million intelligence fund as against the release of a P200-million intelligence fund to a bigger city, which is also in his province.

According to Arnaiz, the COA should come up with a report or at least an advice to the different LGUs and the DILG to limit giving exemptions to different LGUs that are asking for intelligence funds way beyond what is advised by law.

The COA assured the committee that it would look into the issue, especially if it is already excessive. (Salvacion Beleo)

Audit Body Begins Work In Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - The Office of House Speaker Prospero Nograles has belied claims that it was behind the move by the Commission on Audit (COA) to look deeply into the use of (Davao) City Hall of its huge budget for peace and order funds.

“The COA, just like the Commission on Human Rights, is a constitutional body which Congress has no control over,” said lawyer Karlo B. Nograles, son and chief-of-staff of the Speaker.

“Like any government office, we are also subject to a COA audit,” the young Nograles said during his weekly radio program called “Kalamboan Dala Tanan” over radio station dxAB.

Nograles was reacting to claims that fund releases in City Hall have been stopped on account of an ongoing audit by COA. The city’s peace and order funds amounted to about P450-million a year, or a shade above P1.2-million per day.

Davao enjoys up to P4-billion annual budget which is among the biggest in the country.

“The Office of the Speaker is also being audited by COA, but fund releases do not stop, we have continued with our projects and public services,” the lawyer said. “Audit is a simple turnover of proof of disbursements to COA, but it does not mean a stop to fund releases.”

Nograles said disbursement of funds could be stopped if there is no liquidation of all cash advances. “But that is not during the conduct of audit, but in the course of upright fiscal handling,” the lawyer said.

He said judicious use of government funds is the main reason why the Office of the Speaker has been transparent in the implementation of its projects. Aside from the regular publication of the Nograles Accomplishment Report, many public distributions of government aids are all recorded, including video documentation.

Public works projects are also marked by signboards because it is mandated by law.

In his Saturday afternoon radio program, Nograles confirmed that there are plans in Congress to conduct a legislative inquiry into the use of intelligence and peace and order funds. “But that is not in the lower house, but in Senate,” he said.

The lawyer said the Office of Senator Benigno Aquino III has proposed the investigation on the use of intelligence funds by local governments.

Quoting his father, the young Nograles said the lower house would be satisfied to exercise its oversight powers over local government expenditures during the marathon hearings on the 2010 national budget set to begin next week.

Police Arrest Ex-Cop Implicated In Two Zamboanga Murders

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Aug) – Police arrested an ex-cop, who was tagged as one of the suspects in the murder of a state auditor in Zamboanga City last year, officials said.

Officials said Arthur Gomez was arrested by a combined police and military forces at his hideout in Makati City over the weekend and brought to Zamboanga City on Tuesday.

Gomez was implicated in the murder of Vilma Eguias, of the Commission on Audit in August 2007. Eguias was driving her jeep to work when ambushed by motorcycle gunmen in Tetuan village.

Police later arrested one of the suspects, Eduardo Tan, who pointed Gomez and Dr Enrie Caraecle, president of the State College Marines Sciences and Technology in Zamboanga City, as the alleged masterminds.

Caraecle also went into hiding after being linked to the killing. Eguias was investigating anomalies in school involving Caraecle when she was murdered.

Gomez was also accused of murdering his own wife weeks after the killing of Eguias at his hideout in Zamboanga province before escaping to Manila. (Erico Rosco)

Another Scandal Rocks Arroyo Govt

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 15, 2008) – Scandals after scandals, the Arroyo administration is once more entangled in another anomaly, this time involving millions of pesos in farm subsidies and rice programs for farmers, reports said Monday.

The Commission on Audit has uncovered alleged fake signatures on the list of beneficiaries of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

It said more than 100 recipients of the P218 million expenditure of the Department of Agriculture said they received little or not farm subsidies at all for hybrid rice, farm inputs, fertilizers and seeds in Luzon and Visayas.

Several lawmakers have already called for an investigation of the GMA program.

The Department of Agriculture in the past had been dragged into the controversial fertilizer program after one of its deputy secretaries Jocelyn Bolante allegedly diverted more than P700 million to Arroyo's election campaign.

Bolante escaped the Philippines and fled to the United States after the opposition uncovered the anomaly. He was arrested in the US after the Philippine Senate canceled his visa. Arroyo, who was implicated also by the opposition to poll fraud in 2004, denied any involvement in the scandals.

Last week, noted lawyer Harry Roque Roque said he uncovered a controversial $1-billion mining deal between the Arroyo government and China’s ZTE Corporation in Mt. Diwalwal. Government spokesmen insisted the deal did not push through.

North Cotabato Solon Favors Women In Constitutional Bodies

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 03, 2008) – North Cotabato Rep. Emmylou Mendoza said she favors the selection of highly qualified female nominees to fill at least four vacant posts at three independent constitutional bodies -- the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Commission on Audit (COA) and Commission on Elections (Comelec).

"We will definitely gladly receive highly capable female candidates to the open slots," said Mendoza, who is also a member of the Commission on Appointment.

"The empty posts provide the administration a great occasion to designate female nominees who, by their perceived independence and indisputable probity, will unmistakably convey the administration's resolve to further improve governance," she said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

Last month, Karina David and Guillermo Carague completed ended their terms as chairpersons of the CSC and the COA, respectively, leaving the posts vacant.

Meanwhile, at the Comelec, only four commissioners have been attending to election duties following the retirement of Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason Jr. last month.

Malacañang recently designated Jose Melo as the new Comelec chief, but he has refused to assume his new post until the CA confirms him. Commissioner Romeo Brawner is now acting head of the poll body, which is supposed to have seven members, including the chairperson.

Without a chairperson, only Commissioners Reynaldo Villar and Juanito Espino Jr. are now attending to the duties of the COA.

Also without a chairperson, only Commissioners Cesar Buenaflor and Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza are now attending to the duties of the CSC.

As the country’s supreme audit institution, the COA has the mission to promote "good governance with the attributes of honesty, transparency, accountability, credibility, efficiency and effectiveness to enhance trust in the government and foster a better quality of life for the Filipino people."

The COA has the power and duty to audit and settle accounts pertaining to revenues and receipts, as well as expenditures or uses of funds and property owned or held in trust by the government; prescribe government accounting and auditing rules; and recommend measures to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.

The CSC is the government's central personnel agency tasked to render final arbitration on disputes and personnel actions on civil service matters. It is also responsible for the recruitment, building, maintenance and retention of a competent, professional and highly motivated government workforce truly responsive to the needs of the public.

Meanwhile, Mendoza has urged the business sector to give preference to women, cultural minority members in hiring policies. Mendoza said many firms abroad have their own affirmative action plans.

She cited the case of the US, where such plans are required of firms holding government contracts worth over $50,000 or around P2 million.

According to her, the Western concept of affirmative action in hiring and employment policies goes beyond non-discrimination by taking purposeful efforts and specific actions to advance the rights of qualified women and cultural minority group members.

"This means that, given two equally qualified job seekers, firms are encouraged to give preference to either a woman or minority group member," she said.

Mendoza said companies should adopt more progressive personnel policies and be extra conscious in giving preference to qualified women and minority group members.

She added that policies on job training and promotion should also be modified along affirmative action lines.

Mendoza urged the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines to consider integrating affirmative action plans in the hiring and employment policies of their member firms.

She said the plans could be done in consultation with trade unions, women's groups and the Department of Labor and Employment, but lamented that many fully qualified women and minority group members remain unemployed due to "regressive" corporate hiring policies.

She expressed confidence that affirmative action plans would give more meaning to the constitutional mandate to provide "equal employment opportunities for all." (With a report from Mark Navales)

Cop, 2 Others Implicated In Murder Of State Examiner In South RP

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 07 Aug) – Three people, including a local policeman, were implicated in the murder of a state auditor in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said the three men were implicated after police arrested two other suspects in the killing of Vilma Eguias last week. Eguias, of the Commission on Audit, was driving her jeep to work when shot from behind in Tetuan village by one of two motorcycle gunmen.

One of those arrested confessed to the shooting and pointed to the policeman and his two companions, both civilians, as masterminds in the murder, officials said.

It was unknown whether the killing was connected to the victim’s work as government auditor. Eguias was buried Tuesday in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

State Auditor Killed In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 02 Aug) – Motorcycle gunmen killed a government auditor in a daring broad daylight attack Thursday in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said.

The woman, Vilma Eguias, was driving her jeep to work when shot from behind in Tetuan village. She was hit in the back with the bullet exiting from her chest.

“The assailants were probably professional killers. We are investigating the murder,” Senior Superintendent Manuel Barcena, chief of the city police force.

No other details were made available about the killing. It was unknown whether the murder was connected to the victim’s work as government auditor.

Police blamed the proliferation of illegal weapons in the rising criminalities in Zamboanga City.

But the city is thriving with criminals and professional killers blamed for many gun attacks in Zamboanga the past years with victims that included policemen and soldiers. (Mindanao Examiner)