COA questions P23.6-million aid of Cebu City government to Comelec

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The more than P23.6-million assistance that the Cebu City government extended to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the national and barangay elections last year was “unnecessary” and “may have given the impression of affecting the independence of the commission,” state auditors said in a recent report.

In a recent audit observation memorandum, the Commission on Audit (COA) classified almost all items procured or spent using the P23.6-million election reserve fund of the city government to be unnecessary expenses either because they were lavish, excessive or have no legal basis.

Of the P23.6-million assistance, COA questioned the P1,545,250.59 paid to personnel of the Comelec and city treasurer’s office as well as other officials.

COA said the honoraria are “at excessive rates and without legal basis.”

COA also noted that 40 percent or P8.6 million of the assistance was spent on meals, which it believes was excessive and without sufficient documents.

More than P3 million was also spent for equipment, which COA believes, have no direct bearing on the success of the elections.

COA questioned the P50,000 allowance each given to election officers Marchel Sarno and Edwin Cadungog, prosecutor Nicholas Sellon, Department of Education Cebu City Division superintendent Rhea Angtud, Aldwin Limosnero of the city treasurer’s office, and former city treasurer Ofelia Oliva during the May 2010 polls.

Assistant treasurers Emma Villarete 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 chief Melvin Ramon Buenafe also received P60,000, and P467,000 was divided among the city police personnel.

There was also P151,500 given as honoraria to all Comelec North District personnel and support staff, and P120,000 for Comelec South District personnel.

“Our evaluation of the grants of honoraria disclosed that these were all based on the requests of the (city treasurer’s officer) and the two election officers,” COA said.

COA believes that it should be the poll body’s central office that should give these officials the honoraria if they were really entitled to these.

“Rightly so because as officials tasked to sit as Board of Canvassers during elections, they should conduct themselves in a way that will preclude any impression of bias. Conversely, the local government unit should have refrained from giving honoraria,” COA said.

COA said the city government must limit its assistance to Comelec to only supplies and materials that are directly used in the conduct of elections.

Cadungog, however, said, “We are allowed to receive and it is our privilege to request subject to availability of funds. If our request is approved, then it is approved. But if we are denied, wala mi mahimo (we cannot do anything),” Cadungog said.

The election reserve fund is not transferred to Comelec because it has been a practice that the local government unit will have to take charge of the disbursement.

Cadungog said all procured items using the election reserve fund should be noted by the election officers.

He said personnel of the city treasurer’s office are entitled to the honoraria most because they did most of the work in the preparations and on the day of the elections.

He said he used the allowance for expenses during the education and information campaign where they visited different areas.

Buenafe also admitted to have received the allowance after the elections, but refused to comment further.

COA also found equipment worth P3.2 million to have been procured by the city government, which it believes have no direct bearing on the success of the elections.

Some pieces of equipment are now found in the city treasurer’s office, COA said.

Various equipment purchased during the October 2010 barangay elections consisted of 24 personal computers worth P1.3 million at P56,250 each, 18 inkjet printers, one copier, two Canon DSLR cameras, three LED TV home theater systems, and three air conditioners.

Other equipment purchased during the May 2010 national elections were two refrigerators, 17 DVD karaoke systems, one line printer, and four all-in-one amplifiers.

“These equipment were used for the normal operations of the Comelec and were supposed to be bought from its own funds,” COA said.

COA noted that 10 computers and one of the three LED TV home theater systems can now be found at the city treasurer’s office.

“This shows that some equipment were purchased not only for Comelec but purposely for the city treasurer’s use. This is a violation in the sense that these were not included in the City’s Annual Procurement Program,” COA said.

One of the SLR cameras, COA said, is in the possession of the former city treasurer and was not turned over when her term expired.

The meals worth P8.6 million were purchased and paid to only one supplier, but the city treasurer’s office only submitted one vouchers worth P3 million for pre-audit.

COA said the cost for meals per person at P200 and the cost for snacks per person at P150 were too expensive, especially for the snacks during a session that lasted for an hour.

COA also noted that there was no public bidding done in the procurement of the meals, there was splitting of contracts prohibited in government transactions, and there was irregularity in the conduct of the canvass. – Freeman News Service