MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed a former president of the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (MOSCAT) to refund nine months worth of salaries and other benefits paid to him last year.
State auditors said Elpidio Bautista’s salaries and other benefits from April to December 2010 amounting to P427,065 should be refunded.
The MOSCAT board of regents, according to COA, approved in March 2010 an extension of Bautista’s term of office until a permanent replacement was to be appointed.
However, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), in a ruling dated Nov. 12, 2010, disapproved the extension, saying the board of regents should have appointed an officer-in-charge instead of extending Bautista’s term in accordance with the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997.
Because of the CSC ruling, COA said Bautista should return the amount paid to him during the supposed extension of his term.