State auditor files raps vs COA execs over report ‘omissions’

By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor

A GROUP of officials of the Commission on Audit (COA) are in hot water after one of their own slapped them with a string of administrative and criminal charges before the Office of Ombudsman for alleged omissions in an audit report.

The string of graft and corruption cases stemmed from the procurement of heavy equipment in San Fernando town in Bukidnon in 2004 when the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) allegedly purchased it without a public bidding.

Carlito Matias Sr., a member of COA 10’s special audit team, said there were “deliberate” acts of omission in the audit report.

In a copy of his complaint he provided Gold Star Daily early this week, Matias accused lawyers Celso Vocal and Jerry Mero, former chief legal officer and assistant legal officer, respectively, state auditor Sarah Jane Napisa and other officers of COA 10 of “bad faith” to the detriment of San Fernando town in Bukidnon.

“It is with bad faith, so deliberate, that the fact, circumstances, and effect was never revealed in their FFIR (Fact Finding Investigation Report), that it is DBP purchased the heavy equipment and paid P14 million to Monark Corporation… in effect, the Municipality of San Fernando, Bukidnon was deprived by the officers of DBP-Malaybalay City to conduct public bidding in 2014,” Matias’ affidavit reads in part.

In a letter to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Matias complained against the officers of the COA 10, DBP Malaybalay Branch, and San Fernando officials for “their acts or omissions which are contrary to law, rules and regulation appertaining to their role in the investigation or procurement of the heavy equipment, respectively, in the year 2003-2004” by the local government of San Fernando.

Matias said Vocal and Mero allegedly spared the officials of DBP-Malaybalay; Jesus Corotan, chief of the municipal engineering office; and other officers of COA 10 from the investigation.

He said Vocal and Mero “failed to submit the necessary reports relative to the procurement.”

“It is the duty and obligation of Attys. Vocal and Mero as investigating officers to let no stone unturned and never to give undue and manifest favor to public officials who failed to perform their duties and responsibilities pursuant to laws, rules, and regulations,” said Matias.

Matias filed against Vocal and Mero various criminal and administrative complaints in the Office of the Ombudsman, and COA. He also sought their disbarment before the Supreme Court for alleged violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Revised Penal Code, State Audit Code, Civil Service Law, and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.