COA to PDEA: Explain death of 13 K-9 dogs

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) yesterday ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to explain how 13 of its sniffing dogs were killed.

In a 2010 report, the COA said the anti-narcotics agency failed to inform and explain how 13 of its K-9 dogs died.

COA ordered PDEA officials to submit a report pursuant to Section 73 of PD 1445 or the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines.

The COA reports said PDEA’s K-9 dogs, principally utilized for its anti-drug operations, are collectively worth P9.932 million.

“When a loss of government funds or property occurs while they are in transit or the loss is caused by fire, theft, or other casualty or force majeure, the officer accountable therefore or having custody thereof shall immediately notify the Commission or the auditor concerned,” the COA explained.

State auditors noted the Work/Other Animals account of the PDEA had a balance of P9,932,000 as of Dec. 31, 2010.

“This represents the costs of 13 units of K-9 dogs turned over without cost by the defunct National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention (NDLEP) to PDEA,” COA’s audit findings bared.

“We were informed informally that 13 K-9 dogs allegedly died. However, to date no written notice of loss was submitted to the auditor, neither was there request from relief of accountability filed,” the report stressed.

State auditors noted that as of June 30, 2010, PDEA had only two K-9 dogs left, “Frankie” who is active and deployed in Maguindanao, and “Bullet” who was retired and living in Bulacan.

In COA’s audit report for 2008, it was reported that eight K-9 dogs could not be properly accounted for even though certified true copy death certificates were submitted to COA.