Expose P6.5M in cash advances at City Hall

The public clamors for the city accountant and city auditor to reveal the complete list of cash advances by city officials and employees amounting P6.5 million that remain unliquidated as exposed in the 2007 Commission on Audit Report.

This as city accountant Kurt Bungabong and city auditor Teresita Irig rejected the request of Tagbilaran City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso to release the details of the unliquidated cash advances.

In a radio survey over “Radyo Merkado” of Station dyRD yesterday, a resounding 100% of the respondents expressed disapproval on the refusal of both city officials to release the list containing the personalities involved in the P6.5-million unliquidated cash advances as confirmed in the 2007 COA Report.

In said COA Report, it is only this "unliquidated cash advances" that did not have supporting document while the rest of the issues raised by the commission was backed up by supporting documents in the appendix section of the COA report, acccording to City Kagawad Djingo Rama who delivered a privilege speech
regarding the points raised in the audit report.

The respondents said that the people of Tagbilaran deserve to be enlightened and clarified on how taxpayers’ money entrusted to the city government is being administered.

On Tuesday, Veloso asked for the city accountant and the city auditor to be provided with the complete list of unliquidated cash advances as of December 31, 2007 as reported by the City Accounting Office.

The list, Veloso said, was not included in the 2007 COA report which should have been part of the responsibility of the COA “to keep the general accounts of the government and to preserve the vouchers and other supporting papers pertaining thereto.”

Veloso likewise requested Irig to provide documents regarding certain “exceptions” cited in the audit report, whether these “exceptions” have already been complied or settled and which of those that have not yet been complied and the reason for the non-compliance.

Instead of releasing the supporting document on the unliquidated advances as formally requested by the vice mayor, Irig only replied with an "endorsement" of Veloso's request forwarded to the office of the city mayor without acting on the same.

The written endorsement of Irig briefly stated that the findings and corresponding recommendations stated in the COA report is “for implementation” of the executive department.

"I'm just wondering why the city auditor seems to keep this list when she has a copy being the auditor, Veloso questioned when interviewed after Friday's session.

The vice mayor said he will formalize his complaint against the city auditor and city accoutant for their inaction on said request for public transparency.

SCRAP OF PAPER

A report of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on appropriations was presented for approval during last Friday’s session but was questioned by Kag. Rama.

The committee report sought to archive Rama’s privilege speech that raised the questionable items of the COA report in favor of the update on the implementation of audit recommendations issued by the city accountant.

Rama said the committee report is a “mere scrap of paper” since it did not address the specific issues raised in his privilege speech.

“The COA and city accountant must coordinate to submit any papers or documents relevant to justify their comments,” Rama said referring to the committee report which was not supported by official records.

According to Rama, if indeed the cash advances are “moving accounts”, then the city accountant and city auditor should be able to furnish a list of unliquidated cash advances by officials and employees as of December 31, 2007 including the aging of the latest cash advances.

DE LA SERNA COMMENTS

Former OIC Gov. Victor de la Serna who made the first attempt to scrutinize the fund administration at city hall strongly questioned the actuations of the city auditor and accountant, when interviewed during yesterday's "Radyo Merkado" over dyRD.

"It was improper for the auditor and the accountant to deprive the vice mayor on the copy of said documents showing the unliquidated cash advances," de la Serna stressed, while he challenged Vice Mayor Veloso to pursue his quest to further expose this financial issue based on the COA report.

"Since they are paid to protect the interest of the people's money, then they should take legal action against those who obstruct transparency in governance," de la Serna asserted.

He recalled that when he attempted to dig up financial records at city hall, he was given the same cold and embarrassing treatment at the city hall. Asked what prevented him to take legal action, de la Serna said it would be far beyond his duty being a private citizen.

"Now that the vice mayor and the city minority bloc were deprived of basic legal documents, then, they should file charges against these people," de la Serna concluded.