P23.6 M spent by Cebu City in 2010: COA questions poll assistance

CEBU, Philippines - The more than P23.6 million assistance of the Cebu City Government to the Commission on Elections during the National and Barangay Elections last year was “unnecessary” and “may have given the impression of affecting the independence of the Commission,” said state auditors.

In a recent Audit Observation Memorandum, the Commission on Audit (COA) classified almost all items procured or spent using the P23.6-million election reserve fund of the city government to be unnecessary expenses either because they are lavish, excessive or have no legal basis.

Of the P23.6 million assistance, COA questioned the P1,545,250.59 amount paid to personnel of the Comelec and City Treasurer’s Office as well as other officials.

COA said the honoraria are “at excessive rates and without legal basis.”

COA also noted that 40 percent or P8.6 million of the assistance were spent on meals, which they believe are excessive and without sufficient documents.

More than P3 million was also spent for equipment, which COA believes, have no direct bearing on the success of the elections.

COA questioned the P50,000 allowance each given to Election Officers Marchel Sarno and Edwin Cadungog, Prosecutor Nicholas Sellon, Department of Education Cebu City Division Superintendent Rhea Angtud, Aldwin Limosnero of the CTO and former City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva during the May 2010 Elections.

Assistant Treasurers Emma Villerete and Tessie Camarillo, who is now the OIC-City Treasurer, also received P40,000 each.

During the October 2010 Elections, Sarno, Cadungog and Oliva each received another P60,000 allowance while Villarete and Camarillo each received P50,000.

Cebu City Police Office Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe also received P60,000 and P467,000 was divided among the Cebu City Police personnel.

There was also P151,500 given as honoraria to all Comelec North District personnel and support staff and P120,000 for Comelec South District personnel.

“Our evaluation of the grants of honoraria disclosed that these were all based on the requests of the CTO and the two election officers,” COA said.

COA believes that it should be the commission’s central office who should give these officials the honoraria if they are really entitled to it.

“Rightly so because as officials tasked to sit as Board of Canvassers during Elections, they should conduct themselves in a way that will preclude any impression of bias. Conversely, the local government unit should have refrained from giving honoraria,” COA said.

COA said that the city government must limit its assistance to Comelec to only supplies and materials that are directly used in the conduct of elections.

But Cadungog said that under the rule, the Comelec is allowed to receive from the local government units.

“We are allowed to receive and it is our privilege to request subject to availability of funds. If our request is approved, then it is approved. But if we are denied, wala mi mahimo,” Cadungog explained.

The election reserve fund is not transferred to Comelec because it has been a practice that the local government unit will have to take charge of the disbursement.

Cadungog said that all procured items using the election reserve fund should be noted by the election officers.

He said that the CTO personnel are entitled to the honoraria most because they did most of the work in the preparation and on the day of the elections.

He said he used the allowance for expenses during the education and information campaign where they visited different areas.

Buenafe also admitted to have received the allowance after the election, but refused to comment further.

COA also found equipment worth P3.2 million to have been procured by the city government, which they believe have no direct bearing on the success of the elections.

Some of which are now found in the City Treasurer’s Office, COA said.

Various equipment purchased during the October 2010 Barangay Elections consisted of 24 personal computers worth P1.3 million at P56,250.00 each, 18 inkjet printers, one copier, two Cano DSLR cameras, three LED TV Home Theater Systems and three air conditioners.

Other equipment purchased during the May 2010 National Elections were two refrigerators, 17 DVD karaoke systems, one line printer and four all-in-one amplifiers.

“These equipment were used for the normal operations of the COMELEC and were supposed to be bought from its own funds,” the observation reads.

COA noted that 10 computers and one of the three LED TV Home Theater Systems can now be found at the CTO.

“This shows that some equipment were purchased not only for COMELEC but purposely for the City Treasurer’s use. This is a violation in the sense that these were not included in the City’s Annual Procurement Program,” COA said.

One of the SLR cameras, COA said, is in the possession of the former City Treasurer and was not turned over when her term expired.

The meals worth P8.6 million were purchased and paid to only one supplier, but CTO only submitted one voucher worth P3 million for pre-audit. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)