4 Cebu gov’t hospital execs face probe over ‘pork’ misuse

MANILA, Philippines - Four officials of a government hospital in Cebu will face investigation before the Office of the Ombudsman and possible prosecution after the Supreme Court (SC) affirmed the legality of a Commission on Audit (COA) report finding them liable for the misuse of some P3.4 million in pork barrel funds from former Cebu lawmaker Antonio Cuenco.

The SC dismissed the petition of Filomena delos Santos, Josefa Bacaltos, Nelanie Antoni and Maureen Bien, all officials of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), questioning the COA decision of April 2010   holding them civilly and solidarily liable for using P3,386,697.10 in the purchase of anti-rabies drugs through falsified prescription and documents.

“The Court affirmed its long-standing policy to sustain the decisions of administrative authorities, especially those which are constitutionally  created, such as the COA, not only on the basis of the doctrine of separation of powers but also for their presumed expertise in the laws they entrusted to enforce,” read the decision that the SC public information office released.

The SC held that the COA was correct in finding the four officials liable since the hospital acted as custodian and disbursing agency of Cuenco’s   priority development assistance fund (PDAF).