Malabon vice mayor’s unauthorized expenses questioned

The Commission on Audit has ordered Malabon City Vice Mayor Arnold Vicencio to "settle immediately" over P380,000 after the COA disallowed the disbursement of funds paid as salaries of consultants that Vicencio hired in 2005.

In a letter sent in May to Mayor Canuto Oreta and city treasurer Ernesto Pabustan, Elizabeth Zosa, of the COA’s local legal and adjudication office, said Vicencio had no authority to hire consultants.

Zosa explained that a city ordinance that Vicencio used as a basis for his authority to hire consultants — which also authorized then vice mayor Mark Allan Jay Yambao to hire consultants — had already lapsed, saying it only covered the period of June to December 2003.

The COA also said that there were no progress accomplishment reports to determine the services rendered by consultants Marvin Amiana, Rodolfo delos Santos and Jennifer Catindig.

According to Zosa, there was also no information on how the consultants were hired.

She said Vicencio is liable "for certifying that expenses/cash advance necessary, lawful and incurred under his direct supervision and for approving the transactions."

Zosa also held city accountant Eustaquio Angeles accountable "for certifying to the completeness and propriety of the supporting documents of the expenditures."

"Please direct the aforementioned persons to settle immediately the said disallowance. Audit disallowance not appealed within six months…shall become final and executory," the COA stressed.

Amiana, now Vicencio’s chief of staff, told The STAR that they would answer the issue in due time. "We have until Dec. 15 to answer the issue. The vice mayor’s lawyers are also studying its legal aspect and would answer the matter in a proper forum."

Amiana said Vicencio entered into the contract "in good faith, with necessary requirements and services have been rendered."

The COA letter came to light in response to the request made by former councilor Pablo Cabrera Sr., father of incumbent city councilor Pablo Cabrera Jr.

"Why waste government money on services not being rendered, many poor residents of Malabon are in dire need of that amount," Cabrera Sr., who served as councilor for three terms, told The STAR.