Comelec defends City Hall's P23M poll assistance

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City North District election officer Marchel Sarno said they did not violate any rule when they requested and accepted the P23 million poll assistance from the city government.

Sarno said all the expenses were justifiable and they are willing to answer for it before the Commission on Audit.

In a recent Audit Observation Memorandum, COA said the P23 million assistance that the city government granted to the Commission on Elections during the May 2010 and October 2010 elections was unnecessary and “may have given the impression of affecting the independence of the Commission.”

COA questioned among others the P1.5 million paid as honoraria to personnel of the Comelec, City Treasurer’s Office and other officials. COA said the honoraria are “at excessive rates and without legal basis.”

COA noted that Election Officers Sarno and Edwin Cadungog received P50,000 allowance each along with Prosecutor Nicholas Sellon, Department of Education Cebu City Division Superintendent Rhea Angtud, Aldwin Limosnero of the treasurer’s office and former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva during the May 2010 Elections.

Assistant Treasurers Emma Villerete and Tessie Camarillo, who is now the OIC-City Treasurer, also received P40,000 each.

During the October 2010 Elections, Sarno, Cadungog and Oliva each received another P60,000 allowance while Villarete and Camarillo each received P50,000.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe also received P60,000 and P467,000 was divided among the Cebu City Police personnel. There was also some P151,500 given as honoraria to all Comelec North District personnel and support staff and P120,000 for Comelec South District personnel.

Sarno confirmed that they requested the allowance and said that the amount is not at all too much considering that it is for more than six months worth of work since the start of the election period.

“Kung huna-hunaon nga gihatag na sya nga allowance for the election day alone, kana siguro makaingon nga sobra. But it is for more than six months of work. We have been preparing months ahead of the election and that was a lot of work,” Sarno said.

He said the CTO, the Police and the teachers all worked hard not only on the election day but during the preparation.

“If they say that it will affect our independence, they must remember that the city is paying for our office because it is in the law that the LGU must provide adequate office for the commission. And besides, this is a similar case with the justices who received monthly allowance of similar amount from the city. Dili unta i-single out ang Comelec,” Sarno said.

He said the Comelec did not hold the money and let the city government take charge of the disbursement to prevent it from being an issue. He also said that the Comelec is not the only national government agency receiving subsidy from the city government.

On the meals issue, Sarno said that they can testify that all teachers, support staff and other personnel who worked for the elections benefited from it.

Sarno said they have requested food for the teachers because in many LGUs, it has been observed that politicians provide food to teachers serving during the election.

“To keep our teachers from a possible similar scenario, we decide to just provide them food,” Sarno said.

Sarno said that there is a Comelec resolution allowing the LGUs to set aside three percent of the annual budget of the election year for Election Reserve Fund.

Sarno said that they are willing to coordinate with COA for specific guidelines on the use of the Election Reserve Fund.

Mayor Michael Rama meanwhile said that he will have the matter revisited and will do what is proper next time. .  (FREEMAN)