COA told: Probe "irregular" projects

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has asked the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit examination on infrastructure projects allegedly implemented irregularly in some Cebu City barangays.

The result of the special audit examination shall be used as evidence in the complaint with case number CPL-V-11-0723 or Rama vs. Concerned City Government Officials.

The case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the some barangay projects under the Community Micro Assistance Program of the city government.

The projects were found defective and substandard by a team of inspectors from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago wrote COA Regional Director Delfin Aguilar and asked the latter’s office to submit the result as soon as it is done along with all the supporting documents.

In case of adverse findings, the Ombudsman requires COA to submit an affidavit of the auditor who conducted the audit and the corresponding Notice of Disallowance.

The Ombudsman also asked the City government, specifically the three-man committee that conducted an investigation on the alleged irregularities in the implementation of some barangay projects, to submit all pertinent documents relative to the CMAP project for scrutiny of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman specifically asked for the CMAP Background, its rationale, date of implementation and the barangays where it is implemented.

The city was also asked to submit the approved council resolution implementing the CMAP, copies of the Memorandum of Agreement entered into by the recipient barangays, approved budget with corresponding projects and status of fund release, project accomplishment reports, DPWH investigation report and other pertinent documents and evidence.

The three-man committee headed by City Atty. Joseph Bernaldez was created by Mayor Michael Rama to investigate the alleged irregularities.

The committee released its report August last year and submitted this to the Ombudsman-Visayas which they believe is the proper body to investigate further the allegations.

The committee said the Ombudsman has more coercive, subpoena or even contempt powers in order to dig out the truth that had been restrained due to the team’s inherent limitations during their investigation.

The committee’s findings that the irregularities happened because barangays were not capable of handling big projects such as the infrastructure projects found deficient.    - (THE FREEMAN)