MANILA, Philippines - Thirty-eight former officials and employees of General Santos City were ordered to return more than P13.7 million in illegal retirement benefits that were granted to them in 2009.
In a 2011 report released recently, the Commission on Audit (COA) said Mayor Darlene Magnolia Custodio should require the city accountant to cause the return of the money that was released during the time of former mayor Pedro Acharon Jr.
The retirement benefits were paid by virtue of a 2009 city ordinance, which allows employees aged 50 to 59 years old and sickly employees aged 40 to 49 years old to avail themselves of early retirement benefits.
The audit team, however, said the grant of incentives and retirement benefits “is bereft of any legal basis†and a duplication of the retirement package offered by the Government Service Insurance System.
The COA report also noted that the city government illegally disbursed P1.9 million in 2009.