Rama urged: Charge aide

CEBU, Philippines - Members of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan in the Cebu City Council questioned the executive department’s failure to file charges against City Hall employees who have unliquidated cash advances.

The issue of unliquidated cash advances was raised during the budget hearing of the P3.32 billion supplemental budget this year. City treasurer Diwa Cuevas appeared before the City Council to defend the supplemental budget.

However, Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Alvin Dizon, Alvin Arcilla, Sisinio Andales, and Eugenio Gabuya grilled Cuevas on why no complaints have been filed against those who have not liquidated their cash advances.

A certain Carlos “Charlie” Reyes, who is said to be close to Mayor Michael Rama, is said to have over P1 million unliquidated cash advance.

Osmeña asked Cuevas why the city government is hiring someone who has unsettled accounts with the government.

Cuevas said the city government has already withheld the salary of Reyes pending the liquidation of his cash advances. However, BOPK councilors claimed that they have received reports that Reyes continue to receive his salary.

Reyes is an administrative assistant detailed at the Office of the Mayor, specifically under the Cebu City Sports Commission.

In 2012, Reyes was granted P4.7 million cash advance for prizes and trophies given to winners of basketball tournaments and other various sports activities in different barangays in the city. Of the P4.7 million, Reyes has yet to liquidate over P1 million.

Dizon said the city government should follow the rules provided by the Commission on Audit on the liquidation of the cash advances which is within 30 days from the time it was availed of.

“Karon nga hapit na upat ka tuig nga wala pa naka-liquidate, naa gihapon sa City Hall pero sayon ra kaayo ta makapahawa sa mga urban poor nga dili lang makabayad sa three months under sa socialized housing program,” he said.

He said he will push for a resolution urging the executive department to file appropriate charges against all City Hall employees who have not liquidated their cash advances.

“What is so special about him? Who is supervising him?” Osmeña asked.

Cebu City Sports Commission executive director Mark Aliño said Reyes does not have a hand on the money matters in the commission. Aliño said Reyes is just receiving all the requests of the applicants who wish to rent the Cebu Sports Institute.

Cebu Sports Institute in Barangay Sawang Calero has been operational since 2013. However, Cuevas said she has yet to confirm that the city government is not receiving the proceeds of the rentals of the Cebu Sports Institute, which is another possible anomaly involving Reyes.

Osmeña asked Aliño to look into the operations of the sports institute following the revelation of Cuevas. Sought for his comment, Rama said he has referred all unliquidated cash advances to the City Legal Office for appropriate action.

If the city government will push through with the charges against these employees, it should be all and not only Reyes, Rama said.

The BOPK councilors also asked the executive department to require the Barangay Councilors’ League of the Philippines to liquidate the P5.5 million worth of financial assistance from the city government. — (FREEMAN)