Tomas: Remove Cuevas, lessen corruption

CEBU, Philippines – Former Cebu City congressman Tomas Osmeña called for the removal of City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas from office anew, saying corruption at City Hall would be trimmed down by at least 50-percent if she is gone.

"If she will be removed, corruption will be cut down by 50-percent. (Corruption) is due to her liberal interpretation… daghan molusot," he said.

Osmeña recently filed 28 administrative complaints against Cuevas and City Accountant Mark Solomon before the Department of Finance. Earlier, 12 complaints were filed against Cuevas before the Civil Service Commission-7.

Osmena, the former city mayor, said each of the complaint is an "iceberg."

The complaints, which seek for Cuevas' termination, stemmed from the 2012 Commission on Audit report rendering an "adverse opinion" following the "irregularity, insufficiency and omissions on the various records" of the city government's transactions at the time Cuevas headed the Accounting Department.

Of the new set of complaints filed on October16 before DOF, Osmeña alleged "irregularities" in the disbursement of salaries of job-order personnel.

Based on the COA findings, P12.5 million of the city's calamity fund in 2013 was used to pay for wages of JO personnel, which is contrary to the guidelines set under Republic Act 10121 or Philippines Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act and DILG Circular 2012-73.

The guidelines provide that the calamity fund will be used only for disaster risk management activities, such as but not limited to training; purchasing lifesaving equipment, supplies and medicines; post-disaster activities; payment of premiums on calamity insurance; and construction of evacuation centers.

COA said the utilization of the amount was "deemed irregular" because the fund was used beyond its original purpose, resulting to the depletion of calamity fund due to its improper usage.

Cuevas, for her part, said Osmeña's accusations on the utilization of the amount were already answered during the exit conference with COA last year.

The Local Finance Committee reasoned that the JO employees carried out duties in relation to disaster risk reduction and management operations, including calamities that either natural or man-made.

"I beg to disagree nga ako ang nagdala og corruption. The mayor will not allow that, labi na ang mga short-cut processes because we will be reprimanded," Cuevas said.

She further said they are "not liable" for the adverse opinion of COA owing to the beginning balances incurred in previous years that are yet to be reconciled.

"The adverse opinion cannot be changed unless the beginning accounts will be corrected. Anyway, it was just an opinion from COA," she pointed out.

She said that Cebu City has the same predicament with that of the cities of Quezon, Bais and Talisay.  – /JMO (FREEMAN)