Regional state prosecutors get allowances back

CEBU, Philippines - The granting of monthly allowance to regional state prosecutors in Region 7 is back to normal.  This after the Cebu Provincial Government complied with the requirements laid down by the Commission on Audit.

Provincial treasurer Roy Salubre said after they withheld the allowances of the state prosecutors since last August, the release of allowances is now back to normal.

Regional state prosecutor Fernando Gubalane is receiving a P12,500 monthly allowance from the province while deputy regional state prosecutor Vicente Mañalac, assistant regional state prosecutors Graeme June Elmido, Alain Gallego and Raul Cristoria are receiving P10,000 each.

Salubre said the abovementioned prosecutors were able to show proof that they were detailed and assigned to the Province of Cebu.

Last June 15, 2012, COA directed Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to file a comment within 15 days regarding the grant of allowances.

State auditor Barbara Ann Aloba, in her audit observations, questioned the granting of the total amount of P630,000 for five state prosecutors given in 2011.

Aloba said giving of allowances was not supported with the necessary documents.

“The payments were made without an assignment order, the payrolls were not supported with certifications, the payrolls were not certified by the Provincial Accountant and the authority of the Provincial Governor dated August 24, 2010 providing for monthly rates of incentive allowances to the Regional Prosecutors was not a sufficient document to be a basis to collect the allowances,” she said.

Salubre however, said COA allowed the release of the allowances of the state prosecutors after they were able to meet the requirements as cited by the state auditor.

Meanwhile, Mañalac will no longer be receiving monthly allowance from the Province of Cebu after he retired from service.  - /BRP (FREEMAN)