COA flags DOJ over P555 million disbursements

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Department of Justice (DOJ) over P555.582 million in fund disbursements last year as payments to various contractors and fund transfers to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Disbursement vouchers covering payments and fund transfers made to various contractors and implementing agencies were processed, approved and paid without complete supporting documents,” the COA said in its 2022 annual audit report on the DOJ.

The audit breakdown showed that P130.582 million was paid to four contractors while a total of P425 million was transferred to the DPWH for various infrastructure projects.

Among those flagged was the payment of P99.499 million to Rogenox Construction and Supply Corp. for the DOJ Academy Training Center in Barangay Guinhawa South in Tagaytay City.

The COA also flagged the DOJ over the release of P300 million for the construction of various buildings under the department’s 2018 budget allocation.

The audit team said P100 million was disbursed to the DPWH for Phases 2 and 3 of the construction of the multi-purpose DOJ Building in Barangay Bucana in Davao City, also with lack of supporting documents.

The COA said the transfer of P25 million to the DPWH for the construction of the National Prosecution Service Building in Cauayan, Isabela had no certification from the DOJ accountant that the funds previously transferred had been liquidated and accounted for in the books.

“We recommended that the DOJ require the chief accountant and other concerned officials to submit the lacking documents and... ensure that all payments and fund transfers are properly and completely supported with required documents,” the COA said.

In its reply, the DOJ said some of the lacking supporting documents were submitted to the audit team on Feb. 9.