COA asks 6 Manila dads to return allowances
‘No legal basis for getting P1.6M each’
By Allison Lopez - Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – Six Manila councilors have yet to return nearly P10 million to the city government’s coffers despite the Commission on Audit’s finding that there was “no legal basis” for them to receive a “monetary reward” for serving for three consecutive terms.
The six were identified as incumbent Councilors Luciano “Lou” Veloso, Jocelyn Dawis-Asuncion, Marlon Lacson and Monina “Pipay” Silva who received the money on behalf of her late husband, former Councilor Hilarion “Pipoy” Silva. The other two were former councilors Abraham Cabochan and Julio Logarta Jr. All six served in the city council for three consecutive terms from 1995 to 2004.
Based on documents obtained by the Inquirer, the six each received over P1.6 million (out of a total amount of P3 million each) as “initial payment” after they qualified for the Exemplary Public Service Award (Epsa) in 2005.
The Epsa was created by the Manila City Council through Ordinance No. 8040, enacted on Dec. 7, 2000, which authorized “the conferment of an exemplary public service award on elective local officials of Manila who have been elected for three consecutive terms in the same position.”
The ordinance, whose principal author was Lacson, covered the mayor, vice mayor and councilors and stipulated that qualified officials would receive “a plaque of appreciation, retirement and gratuity pay remuneration equivalent to the actual time served in the position.”
After the release of the money, however, then supervising city auditor Gabriel Espina said a “verification of the (above) payment showed that the grant of (a) monetary reward to former elective officials in the form of retirement and gratuity pay was approved and authorized by the city council without legal basis.”
Espina’s comment was in an audit observation memorandum (AOM) he issued in 2005, a copy of which was received by the Inquirer.
According to him, the remuneration was “not among the compensation and benefits due to elective local officials enumerated under … the Local Government Code of 1991.”
Eduardo de Gracia, a human resources management officer at City Hall, told the Inquirer that a city councilor is entitled to the following benefits every month: P23,422 in basic salary plus P10,000 representation allowance; P1,500 additional compensation and P500 personal emergency relief allowance. He added that city councilors do not receive retirement benefits.
Based on Espina’s AOM, the COA legal and adjudication office, through COA Director IV Elizabeth Zosa, issued a notice of disallowance on May 24, 2006 ordering the six councilors to return the P1.6 million each of them had received.
Zosa said that the giving out of a monetary reward “likewise contravenes Article 170 of Republic Act 7160, which provides that no elective or appointive local official shall receive additional, double or indirect compensation unless specifically authorized by law.”
Despite her order, a certification made by city accountant Ma. Lourdes Manlulu last week said that none of the six councilors has complied with the COA directive. Instead, they filed at the City Auditor’s Office “a motion to lift the notice of disallowance.”
Zosa added that several other city officials were also liable for the disbursement of the money.
They included former Mayor Lito Atienza for approving the ordinance creating the Epsa, former vice mayor and city council presiding officer Danilo Lacuna who approved the transaction, city council secretary Rodolfo Lapid who certified that the expenses were lawful and necessary, city accountant Gloria Quilantang who attested to the completeness and propriety of supporting documents and city budget officer Alicia Moscya.
In an interview with the Inquirer, Veloso confirmed he had received the money, although he defended the Epsa.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. My talent fee is even bigger than the amount I received,” Veloso, who is also an actor, said. “It is a big help to us councilors. Because of our meager salaries, most of us end up spending our own money to help people who come to us,” he added.
By Allison Lopez - Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – Six Manila councilors have yet to return nearly P10 million to the city government’s coffers despite the Commission on Audit’s finding that there was “no legal basis” for them to receive a “monetary reward” for serving for three consecutive terms.
The six were identified as incumbent Councilors Luciano “Lou” Veloso, Jocelyn Dawis-Asuncion, Marlon Lacson and Monina “Pipay” Silva who received the money on behalf of her late husband, former Councilor Hilarion “Pipoy” Silva. The other two were former councilors Abraham Cabochan and Julio Logarta Jr. All six served in the city council for three consecutive terms from 1995 to 2004.
Based on documents obtained by the Inquirer, the six each received over P1.6 million (out of a total amount of P3 million each) as “initial payment” after they qualified for the Exemplary Public Service Award (Epsa) in 2005.
The Epsa was created by the Manila City Council through Ordinance No. 8040, enacted on Dec. 7, 2000, which authorized “the conferment of an exemplary public service award on elective local officials of Manila who have been elected for three consecutive terms in the same position.”
The ordinance, whose principal author was Lacson, covered the mayor, vice mayor and councilors and stipulated that qualified officials would receive “a plaque of appreciation, retirement and gratuity pay remuneration equivalent to the actual time served in the position.”
After the release of the money, however, then supervising city auditor Gabriel Espina said a “verification of the (above) payment showed that the grant of (a) monetary reward to former elective officials in the form of retirement and gratuity pay was approved and authorized by the city council without legal basis.”
Espina’s comment was in an audit observation memorandum (AOM) he issued in 2005, a copy of which was received by the Inquirer.
According to him, the remuneration was “not among the compensation and benefits due to elective local officials enumerated under … the Local Government Code of 1991.”
Eduardo de Gracia, a human resources management officer at City Hall, told the Inquirer that a city councilor is entitled to the following benefits every month: P23,422 in basic salary plus P10,000 representation allowance; P1,500 additional compensation and P500 personal emergency relief allowance. He added that city councilors do not receive retirement benefits.
Based on Espina’s AOM, the COA legal and adjudication office, through COA Director IV Elizabeth Zosa, issued a notice of disallowance on May 24, 2006 ordering the six councilors to return the P1.6 million each of them had received.
Zosa said that the giving out of a monetary reward “likewise contravenes Article 170 of Republic Act 7160, which provides that no elective or appointive local official shall receive additional, double or indirect compensation unless specifically authorized by law.”
Despite her order, a certification made by city accountant Ma. Lourdes Manlulu last week said that none of the six councilors has complied with the COA directive. Instead, they filed at the City Auditor’s Office “a motion to lift the notice of disallowance.”
Zosa added that several other city officials were also liable for the disbursement of the money.
They included former Mayor Lito Atienza for approving the ordinance creating the Epsa, former vice mayor and city council presiding officer Danilo Lacuna who approved the transaction, city council secretary Rodolfo Lapid who certified that the expenses were lawful and necessary, city accountant Gloria Quilantang who attested to the completeness and propriety of supporting documents and city budget officer Alicia Moscya.
In an interview with the Inquirer, Veloso confirmed he had received the money, although he defended the Epsa.
“There’s nothing wrong with it. My talent fee is even bigger than the amount I received,” Veloso, who is also an actor, said. “It is a big help to us councilors. Because of our meager salaries, most of us end up spending our own money to help people who come to us,” he added.
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