By NG Seruela
The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Tuesday (Aug. 24) said the Commission on Audit (COA) audit findings on various government agencies are not adequate for the former to conduct an investigation.
PACC Chairperson Greco Belgica said, in a Laging Handa public briefing, the annual reports of the COA are not yet final. The findings are still “subject to compliances and justification.”
“Hindi pa ho kasi final ang annual audit report na yearly nilalabas ng COA dahil yearly po nila ginagawa ito eh…These are subject to compliance and justification pa po,” he said.
Belgica said he immediately communicated with COA Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo when the reports came out to “inquire and get clarifications” regarding the flagged agencies. He explained that the COA and PACC have an “operational relationship.”
“Mayroon ho kasi kaming operational relationship ng COA at PACC na magtutulungan kami sa cases within the mandate of our office.”
He shared that Chair Aguinaldo said the reports may be “procedural and are subject to justification and compliances.”
“Normally, ang mga agencies are asked to comply with documents, receipts, probably contracts to justify ‘yung mga flags. Kapag na-justify naman nila ay mawawala naman ang pagka-flag, subalit kapag hindi nila na-justify, ma-i-issue-han sila ng notice of disallowance,” he said.
According to him, the notice of disallowance can initiate the investigation of the PACC since it means that the audit process is complete.
“Ibig sabihin ng notice of disallowance ay mayroon na talagang na-violate na batas, so pwede na pong mag-investigate at mag-file ng kaso after ang PACC,” he added.
Belgica emphasized that it is the job of COA to audit and the PACC’s job is to investigate when there is a case filed or reports of corruption involved.
“So, ang COA po ino-audit ang paggastos. Ibig sabihin, kunwari kung sinabi mo na we have P10 billion na in-appropriate for sub-related concerns, “O, bakit hindi mo naman ginastos?” Iyon, audit po iyon. So, hindi namin trabaho ho iyon, COA po ang gagawa noon. And kapag sinabi nila, “Eh, hindi ninyo naman pala inilagay sa sub [-related concerns] ito, inilagay naman pala sa kunwari building.” O, iyon magkakaroon sila ng, “Ibalik ninyo iyan,”- notice of disallowance, magkakaso ngayon sila sa amin dahil hindi ginamit iyong pera sa tama. Ganoon,” he expounded. – rir
