Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 2) — The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered former Department of Agriculture (DA) officials in Davao City to refund over ₱1.2 million in public funds found to have been illegally spent from 2008-2009.
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COA denied the petition for review filed by former DA Davao Region finance division chief Alma Mahinay and regional accountant Mariflor Garcia for lack of merit.
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“It is shown that had petitioners performed their responsibilities diligently, faithfully, and efficiently, the illegal disbursement of government funds would not have materialized,” COA said in a January 2022 decision recently made available to the media.
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The decision affirmed a notice of disallowance previously issued by state auditors in 2012.
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Auditors flagged transactions for various extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses as they were illegally sourced from the Malampaya Fund.
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The Malampaya Fund consists of the national government’s earnings from the Camago-Malampaya natural gas project since Oct. 26, 2001. From Jan. 1, 2002 up to June 30, 2013, the national government earned ₱173.28 billion from the Malampaya gas fields.
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As of May 21, 2012, some ₱38.84 billion had been released to national government agencies by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) according to COA.
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The DBM had allowed the DA to source ₱4 billion from the Malampaya Fund to be used for rice self-sufficiency programs.
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However, auditors noted the transactions in this case do not fall under such purpose.
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“The disallowed transaction pertains to the reimbursement mostly of meals, assorted fruits, fish for visitors from DA Central Office, and snacks, the payment of which was sourced from the Malampaya Fund,” COA said.
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Auditors also found irregularities in the receipts and other supporting documents submitted for these transactions.
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Some business establishments apparently could not be located, while the signatures affixed on the receipt of one business establishment are similar to those seen on receipts from other business establishments.
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