Marikina college told to return fees paid to private lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC) to ask its lawyer to return P270,000 in consultancy fees that he received from the school.

COA said lawyer Francis Villanueva is not authorized to receive a salary from the state-owned school without prior approval from COA.

“Public funds shall not be utilized for payment of the services of a private legal counsel or law firm to represent government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations and local government units in court or to render legal services for them,” COA quoting a circular issued in 1998 said.

“The written conformity and acquiescence of the Solicitor General or the Government Corporate Counsel, as the case may be, and the written concurrence of the Commission on Audit shall first be secured before the hiring or employment of a private lawyer or firm,” the circular added.

The COA report said the MPC hired Villanueva as private legal counsel from Dec. 16, 2008 to June 15, 2009 under the authority of board resolutions for a monthly retainer fee of P15,000.