Uy admin: Oca also used large cash advances

UNEARTHED records reveal that former Mayor Oscar Moreno also used large cash advances, challenging current allegations against Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy’s administration.

These findings show Moreno authorized substantial cash advances — totaling over half a billion pesos during his nine-year tenure — calling into question claims that such practices are inherently irregular or illicit.

Data indicates Moreno’s administration also used significant cash advances, undermining accusations of fund misappropriation against Mayor Uy.

According to financial records, Moreno approved multiple large cash advances totaling P171,556,000 in December 2021 alone. In December 2020, he issued seven advances totaling P125.5 million, and in December 2019, he issued twelve advances totaling P289.7 million.

These figures sum up to an astonishing P586.75 million within just three years of his nine-year governance.

This revelation has prompted critics to argue that Moreno’s cash advance practices were widespread and lacked transparency.

Moreno’s former communications consultant, BenCy Ellorin, remarked that “gihurot, giwaldas gyud ang kwarta sa syudad,” implying significant misappropriation of funds.

Ellorin also pointed out that Moreno left only P103 million in the city’s coffers upon his departure in June 2022, with unpaid liabilities reaching P2.7 billion and over 126 unfinished projects valued at P1.05 billion.

In response, Mayor Uy’s camp dismisses the current allegations as politically motivated.

Uy’s spokesperson, Jann Guillmore Actub, stated that cash advances are a routine aspect of government operations.

“Tungod kay panahon karon sa eleksyon, busa, dili na ikatingala nga daghan ang magbuhat-buhat sa mga isyu ug istorya nga walay kapasikaran aron lang pagdaot sa kredibilidad ug reputasyon sa usa ka kandidato, ilabina si Mayor Klarex Uy,” Actub said.

However, critics like former City Administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a emphasize that the issue isn’t whether cash advances are common but rather about transparency and accountability in their use.

He has called for an investigation by the Commission on Audit (COA) into the alleged P330 million in cash advances from late 2022 to early 2025, raising concerns that funds may have been misused or misappropriated.

He also observed of some instances where there were three cash advances made in one day for the same supposed purpose.

“Nabalaka kami nga mahitabo na sad karon (midterm elections) ang the same pattern of cash advances,” said Sabuga-a.

The Uy camp maintains that all financial transactions have been conducted within legal boundaries, citing COA Circular 97-002 as the guiding framework.

Actub added that government offices are subject to audits, and any irregularities would be uncovered through proper channels.

“Naa man mga buhatan sa gobyerno nga mohatag sa ilang ‘audit findings’ kung adunay makit-an nga iregularidad,” he assured the public, reaffirming confidence in the system’s integrity.

This controversy underscores the broader political debate surrounding the use of public funds.

Conversely, critics contend that these practices reflect mismanagement and a lack of transparency.

The City Mayor’s Office also clarified that all cash advances have undergone proper liquidation and were submitted to COA for review.

“Also, all the cash advances go through legal appropriations,” Sheila Lumbatan, chief of staff at the CMO, said.

Lumbatan further pointed out that recent data from City Hall complicates the narrative, revealing that the current administration’s cash advance figures are not necessarily unprecedented.

“This raises questions about the fairness of singling out the present leadership without acknowledging that similar, if not larger, practices took place in the past,” she added.

They emphasized that the emergence of concrete data from City Hall highlights the importance of considering context when evaluating government financial practices.

While underscoring the need for oversight and accountability, Uy’s camp stressed that cash advances are a standard tool across administrations, regardless of political affiliation.

They insisted that the focus should be on ensuring transparency and proper use of funds to rebuild public trust and foster good governance — something they claim the current administration was committed to until early 2025.