COA probing Rizal town’s P422-M ‘missing’ funds

The municipal government of Rodriguez, Rizal would cooperate fully with the Commission on Audit (COA) in tracing P422 million in “unaccounted” municipal funds.

Acting Rodriguez Mayor Jonas Cruz admitted that COA is now investigating the missing municipal funds but clarified that it has not coordinated with him on its findings so far.

“I will look into it. But the COA is undertaking a probe on it at present,” said Cruz, adding that his administration would fully cooperate with the investigation for the “truth to come out.”

Cruz was designated as acting mayor last month after the Rizal provincial government suspended Mayor Pedro Cuerpo for 60 days for ignoring its resolution stopping the town from collecting exorbitant fees from garbage haulers using the 19-hectare sanitary landfill in the town.

Cuerpo expressed surprise why the report on the “unaccounted” funds surfaced at the time he was under suspension.

He said the COA report should be forwarded to the Rodriguez municipal government first instead of the media.

Cruz admitted that the “unaccounted” funds would be a big help for the cash-strapped municipal government, especially in the delivery of basic services.

He said they would do their best to trace the funds, which “can be used to finance the needs of the people of Rodriguez.”

At present, the town is experiencing financial difficulties due to the absence of revenues from the sanitary landfill, he said.

Meanwhile, Cruz denied reports that he fired 1,400 of the town’s 4,000 employees.

He said all employees without existing contracts were considered terminated. “But I issued a memorandum allowing those affected to re-apply for the job,” he said.

Cruz clarified that all street-sweepers, garbage collectors and other frontline department personnel have been rehired.

The affected employees, however, believe they are at the losing end of a political war among the town’s politicians.