Mess on transporting inmates? Jail vehicle rentals not documented

The rentals of vehicles used in transporting inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center to court hearings were not supported by documents, according to the report of the Commission on Audit.

But Capitol legal consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda and security consultant Byron Garcia said the province would always make sure drivers of prison vehicles it rented have a certificate of appearance as a way to document the use of vehicles.

 In its annual report, the COA said that Capitol violated Section 4 of Presidential Decree 1445 and Section 111 of COA Circular No. 2004-006 when it incurred P1,799,100 in transporting inmates to different trial courts without supporting documents such as official receipts of rental payment and court orders.

Section 4 of the PD No. 1445, provides the guidelines on the financial transactions and operation of any government agency. Among the guidelines is that “claims against government funds shall be supported with complete documents.”

In its circular, COA also provides the guidelines on accepting receipt of payment for disbursements.

“Generally, the objective of examining the evidence of receipt of payment is to establish that the funds disbursed have actually been received by the payee so that any liability arising from the claim has indeed extinguished or reduced in the amount received by the payee,” it said.

For calendar year 2007, the total expenses incurred by CPDRC for vehicle rentals amounted to P1,870,800. Of the amount, P1,799,100 was reportedly paid during the year.

In its report, COA said without official receipts, payments of the vehicle rentals failed to establish that the funds disbursed were actually received by the concerned claimants.

The provincial jail facility is renting vehicles to transport its inmates to different courts in Cebu City and province.

“We can never fully comply with written order because they (judges) are practicing it in open court,” Sepulveda said.

Sepulveda’s statement was supported by acting provincial warden Alito Gabuya, who explained that there are continuing trials being practiced by judges who would order for succeeding appearances of inmates verbally in the presence of court staff, jail guards, among others.

Sepulveda also explained that travel orders are already a proof that the rented vehicles are used for intended purposes.

“Just to erase and cure whatever doubts, mangayo ang atong jail guards og court appearances. Kini maoy among gi-attached nga pagmatuod nga naa sila didto. We fee that this is the sufficient proof that we used the vehicle,” Sepulveda added.

In a move for transparency under the administration of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the Capitol would sometimes present the COA reports to the media.

“Imbis among itago-tago, among gi-presentar sa inyoha,” Sepulveda said. —/LPM