MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed two notices of disallowances issued against former Legazpi City mayor Noel Rosal and his wife, incumbent mayor Carmen Rosal, in relation to separate incidents of unlawful disbursement of funds. In the rulings dated July 31, the COA en banc said that there was “patent disregard for laws and administrative issuances/regulations” that amounted to “gross negligence.” They added that this makes the couple “erring public officials liable for the return” of the money.
A disallowance, as defined by COA , is “the disapproval in audit of a transaction, either in whole or in part” which could be due to “irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or unconscionable expenditures, or uses of government funds and properties,” requiring the return of public funds. The incident involving the incumbent mayor is related to funds disbursed tagged as Economic Welfare Allowance equivalent to a one-month salary, and an across the board P30,000 cash incentive to local officials in 2022. COA, however, said that the city ordinance used to justify the payout was “invalid and inoperative” since it goes against the existing Salary Standardization Law and the Local Government Code.
“All allowances and compensation of government personnel are already integrated into their standardized salary rates,” COA said. “Public funds are the property of the people and must be used prudently at all times with a view to preventing dissipation and waste.” Meanwhile, the COA en banc affirmed the notice of disallowance against funding release amounting to P26.
58 million as authorized by former mayor Noel Rosal – P4.46 million for tricycle drivers and P22.124 million for senior citizens between March and May 2022.
According to COA, the decision is in deference to the move by the Commission on Election which found that the disbursement was in violation of the Omnibus Election Code. COA, however, said that other local officials are only partly liable given that they were not involved in the decision making process, and that the former mayor, who was an Albay gubernatorial candidate, “is clearly directly related to the basis of the disallowance.” – Rappler.
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