Ex-Albay gov, wife told to return over P60 million

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed former Albay governor Noel Rosal, his wife, incumbent Legazpi City mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal, and several other city officials and employees to return more than P60 million in government funds found to have been illegally disbursed in 2022.

In a nine-page decision dated July 31, the COA upheld a Notice of Disallowance issued by its Regional Office IV on Sept. 29, 2023 against Noel Rosal in connection with the disbursement of P26.58 million for financial assistance to tricycle drivers and senior citizens despite the 45-day spending ban during the 2022 elections.

It also ordered the return of P38.1 million that were disbursed as economic welfare assistance and additional incentives to Legazpi City officials and employees in 2022, after Carmen assumed the mayoral post from her husband.

The assistance was equivalent to a one-month salary of each recipient, while the incentive amounted to P30,000 for each recipient across the board.

“Patent disregard for laws and administrative issuances/regulations amounts to gross negligence, which makes the erring public officials liable for the return of the amount disallowed,” the COA said in its ruling.

Noel at that time was the incumbent Legazpi City mayor and was running for governor of Albay. He won in the elections but was later disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) over the same election spending. His disqualification case is now under appeal before the Supreme Court.

In its decision, the COA sided with the Comelec position that the spending violated the Omnibus Election Code.

Aside from Noel, city treasurer Carlita de Guzman, accountant Gloria Aringo, disbursing officers Vilma Pujol, Constance Oliveros and Imelda Mayor, and social welfare and development officer Maria Marlene Manaya were also told to return the public funds.

The COA, however, clarified that they shall be made liable to refund only the amounts they actually received, noting that, unlike Noel, they did not take part in the decision-making process that led to the disbursement of the amounts during the election spending ban.