LTO-7 exceeded allowed amount for bonuses, gifts

Aside from issuing P14 million in illegal checks, the Commission on Audit also said the amount released by the Land Transportation Office-7 for cash gifts, yearend bonus and allowances for its officials and employees exceeded the approved amount in the vouchers and payrolls.

The COA report did not mention if the questionable activities were also the handiwork of a former LTO-7 disbursing officer who was already dismissed from her job and is now facing investigation before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

While conducting post audit of the financial transactions of the LTO-7 office, the auditors discovered that the amount written on two of the checks representing cash advances to the agency’s accountable officer for the payment of cash gifts, yearend bonus and representation and traveling allowances exceeded P202,144.

COA explained that while the supporting payrolls and the approved disbursement vouchers for the cash gift and yearend bonus are good only for P774,948.50 the figures was reflected as P974,948.50 in the Land Bank check no. 1211363 with a difference of P200,000.

The disbursement voucher for the release of P52,855 intended for the Representation and Transportation Allowance of the LTO officials was also bloated to P55,000 as reflected in the check.

COA recommended a thorough investigation into the anomalies allegedly committed by former LTO disbursing officer Marissa Beriña and to request the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order against her so she cannot leave the country.

Former LTO-7 regional director Alex Leyson, who has been reassigned to Tacloban City-based Eastern Visayas LTO regional office, said it was only a ministerial duty for him to sign the vouchers and checks.

“Gi-examine man nang daan ang mga dukomento sa atong finance ug disbursing officers mao nga mipirma na lang usab ko kay nagtoo man ko nga wala nay problema.  Sila man maoy nahibalo g’yod.  Ang-ang man sab og tagsa-tagsaon na lang g’yod nato og tan-aw ang mga dukomento,” Leyson said.

It was also reported that other government officials no longer scan documents submitted to them to check whether the supporting papers are complete or compare the figures in the disbursement vouchers and checks.

Meanwhile, the state auditors also found out that the LTO-7 collecting officers failed to comply with the provisions of the law to deposit their collections to the agency’s depository banks not later than the next banking day.  Sometimes it takes them up to 20 days to do so.

The collecting officer explained that her collections were borrowed by the LTO disbursing officer and to prove her claim she presented notes in her cash book.

COA advised the collecting officers to comply with the law especially during weekends or days prior to holidays to avoid the risk of loss and misappropriation.  — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP