BOPK leaders to file case against Rama on allowance for teachers

CEBU, Philippines - Some people plan to file criminal and administrative charges against Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama once the Commission on Audit (COA) would declare illegal the spending of P48 million from the Special Education Fund for the cash assistance to the teachers.

They, however, request not to be named until they can file the complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas. They are allies of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), the opponent of Team Rama.

The Freeman asked BOPK founder and Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña on whether he himself would be filing charges against Rama in relation to the spending of SEF for the teachers’ cash assistance, Osmeña replied: “No plan.”

City Accountant Diwa Cuevas and City Treasurer Emma Villarete and Budget Officer Nelfa Briones claimed that the spending of the P48,211,000 for the granting of P10,000 to each of the 4,821 teachers upon the order of the mayor was considered illegal.

Cuevas said Section 272 of the Local Government Code provides that the SEF, which is equivalent to one percent of the total real property tax collection, shall be allocated only for the construction, operation and maintenance of public school buildings and facilities, including education research, purchase of books and periodicals and sports development, as approved by the local school board.

This is also provided for under Section 82 of the COA New Government Accounting System manual for local government and in Article 133 of the Local Government Code’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

But the mayor stands firm on his stand and added that he is ready to face the consequences even if it would mean he would be placed behind bars.

The three City Hall department heads who objected to the charging of the teachers’ cash assistance against the SEF explained that they are not against the granting of cash aid to the teachers, but it should not be charged against the Special Education Fund. –(FREEMAN)