Comelec execs deny unliquidated cash aid

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City election officers denied reports that they have not liquidated the financial aid they received from the City Hall during the last elections.

Election officers Marchel Sarno and Edwin Cadungog said they did not spend a single centavo of the P600,000 because it was returned to City Hall.

“Dili uy, dili g’yud tinuod nga wala mi maka-account sa gihatag sa City Hall kay ang tinuod giuli man gani namo ang tseke,” Sarno, Cebu City north district election officer, said.

A text message requesting the media to check on the alleged unliquidated cash advance of the two election officers circulated earlier.

Sarno said they have not spend the two checks that were given to them as cash advance for the expenses during the May 10 elections because they have encountered problems in the documentation.

The documentation problem prompted Sarno and Cadungog to return the checks to the Cebu City treasurer’s office on February 13, 2011. They were issued official receipt Nos. 1083900 for the check amounting to P400,000 and official receipt Nos. 1193954 for the other check with a value of P200,000.

The P600,000 cash advance would have been used to augment the Comelec’s expenses during the last elections. However, the election officers said they had difficulty in collating the supporting documents of their expenses prompting them to return the checks to City Hall instead. — (FREEMAN)