Barangay leaders to COA: "We can't find documents"

CEBU, Philippines – Documents that the Commission on Audit (COA) requires for the release of the honoraria of barangay officials in Cebu City are impossible to produce, considering that these pertains to transactions made by their predecessors.

Barangay officials admitted they have difficulty in beating the deadline set by the COA for the submission of the documents, which are vital for them to get their honorarium this month.

The barangay officials explained that they assumed office only in December 1, 2007, while the COA asked city accountant Arlene Rentuza to withhold the honoraria of barangay officials for September pending their submission of documents for the transactions beginning January of that year.

Unfortunately for them, their predecessors did not leave documents, if there were any, as there was no formal turn over.

Duljo-Fatima Barangay Captain Elmer Abella, in his letter addressed to Rentuza, said they have difficulty in meeting the deadline because they could not find the required reports.

"Much as we desired and tried to produce the 2007 reports, we regret that it was not accomplished due to the unavailability of the required documents," Abella said.

Abella said that as early as January 2008, they tried to produce the attachments to the reports but these could not be found.

Duljo-Fatima Barangay Treasurer Nicolas Teofilo said they were able to accomplish the December 2007 reports because they assumed office that month.

Teofilo said he tried to comply with reports for the January to November 2007 transactions but the missing documents could not be traced.

"We are informing COA and city accounting department that we cannot submit the January to November 2007 report, which were not accomplished by the previous administration," Teofilo said.

He added that their 2008 and 2009 reports were already submitted to the City Accounting Office.

In a separate interview with The FREEMAN, City Accounting Financial Control Division Chief Agnes Tabares said that Barangay Poblacion Pardo also informed them about the same problem.

Tabares understands the sentiments of some barangays where there were no proper turnover of documents and reports by those who lost in the 2007 barangay elections.

But Tabares said the matter must be addressed to the COA.

"I will refer this concern to COA kung unsaon ni nato pag-reconcile sa 2007 ilabi na ang mga bagong opisyales mipuli niadto lang December 2007," Tabares said.

Tabares said that most of the barangays lack the needed vouchers and official receipts.

State Auditor Eva Cabrera had asked the city accounting office to withhold the honoraria particularly of the barangay captains and treasurers, if they cannot submit the 2007, 2008, and 2009 financial reports.

Cabrera said their office could not determine "the propriety, validity, authenticity and legality" of the barangay transactions for lack of supporting documents.

As of yesterday, only 15 out of 80 barangays have completed and complied with the recommendations of COA. These include T. Padilla, Mabolo, Cogon Ramos, Lusaran, Mabini, Basak San Nicolas, Caretta, Sudlon II, Sudlon I, Sinsin, San Nicolas Proper, Sambag I, Busay, Pulangbato and Guadalupe. (FREEMAN)