COA-7 refuses to comment on charges versus Cuevas

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit-7 refused to comment on the merit and substance of the “adverse” findings made by its audit team against the Cebu City government since the opinions are still “appealable.”

COA-7 Director Alicia Malquisto told the Civil Service Commission-7 after she was asked to comment regarding the 12 cases filed by former mayor Tomas Osmeña against City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas.

“With regards to the merit and substance of the subject audit findings, the undersigned (Malquisto) deems it appropriate not to comment there on since the matter and incidence are still within the jurisdiction of the Audit Team, whose audit decision is appealable to the undersigned (Malquisto) pursuant to Rule V of the 2009 Revised Rules and Regulations on Settlement of accounts prescribed under COA No.2009-006 dated September 15,2009,” read Malquisto’s comment.

Cuevas received the comment yesterday.

Last year, Osmeña filed 39 administrative complaints against Cuevas and Mark Salomon before the Department of Finance and Civil Service Commission-7.

Of the total number of complaints filed, 27 were filed before the DOF while the other 12 were filed before the CSC-7. All complaints stemmed from the COA’s “adverse opinions” in 2013 on Cebu City’s operations and transactions in 2012.

Cuevas said she already filed her counter-affidavit on all the complaints through her legal counsel. She said she will refer the comment of COA to her legal counsel.

Cuevas asked for the dismissal of the cases on the grounds of forum shopping and lack of jurisdiction.

Malquisto said in her comment that city’s audit team leader Maria Daisy Bercede reported to her that only four out of 12 audit findings of the city were implemented.

At least six findings were partially implemented and the other two findings were not implemented at all.

Malquisto, though, said she has yet to receive the compliance of the requirements that the state auditor required the city government so that the latest and updated status of the remaining eight out of 12 audit recommendations can be known.

She stressed that the city should comply with it since COA can impose administrative sanction on any official who will unjustifiably and repeatedly fail to submit the requirements asked by the office. She said any public official found guilty of such would be guilty of neglect of duty.

“The audit report of the Audit Team Leader who is the representative of  the COA as provided in Section 43 of P.D (Presidential Decree) 1445, should not be taken lightly since the audit was made in keeping with the constitutional mandate of COA which adheres to the objective in determining whether or not the fiscal responsibility that rests directly with the head of the government agency has been properly and effectively discharged,” she added.  (FREEMAN)