ARMM assembly quizzed on cash advances

MANILA, Philippines - The legislative branch of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) incurred unliquidated cash advances amounting to over P11.6 million last year, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

In a 2010 report, COA said the Regional Legislative Assembly (RLA) headed by Speaker Roonie Sinsuat failed to settle the cash advances on time, as required.

Failure to liquidate cash advances by yearend, according to the state auditors, violates Circular No. 97-002, which also states that “no additional cash advances shall be allowed to any official or employee unless the previous cash advance given to him is first settled or a proper accounting thereof is made.”

Records show that cash advances granted to various officers and employees of the RLA in the amounts of P285,000 and P11,330,193.04 remained unliquidated as of Dec. 31 last year.

“Allowing these cash advances to remain unliquidated at yearend overstates the receivables account and understates the corresponding expense account,” the COA report said.

State auditors said the leadership of the ARMM’s RLA should strictly impose the rules and regulations in the granting, utilization and liquidations of cash advances in accordance with COA Circular 97-002 dated Feb. 10, 1997.