ROXAS City – The Commission on Audit (COA) has summoned the alleged “ghost employees” who worked under the city government’s Matahum and Matinlo Program. The agency wants to verify their identities.
COA has sent Mayor Angel Alan Celino a letter in relation to its ongoing post audit, particularly regarding the payroll of the 15 casual workers of the city’s de-clogging program.
“Relative to the ongoing post audit conducted by our office on paid payroll regarding Matahum ang Matinlo Program, please advise the personnel listed below under Job Order No. 002-2018 covering the period January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 to personally appear in the Office of the Auditor within 5 days upon receipt of this letter for authentication of their signatures,” the letter read.
The mayor received the letter on Sept. 27.
Among those the COA listed were:
*Aleligay, Resty Roel B.
*Alina, Julia U.
*Angeles, Orphel B.
*Arpaz, Jerry V.
*Busto, Mary Joy. B.
*Dacoco, Carl F.
*Dela Cruz, Marlon. P.
*Dimoy, Nimelyn A.
*Flores, Miguel F.
*Goleb, Aileen A.
*Naig, Fernan B.
*Pentella, Marilyn D.
*Peñalusa, Jordan T.
*Vilasco, Jimmy A.
*Villa, Joven T.
They were required to bring their identification cards with them.
State Auditor IV Joy Therese Orillos signed the letter, which was also addressed to Roxas City Government Human Resource Officer Ma. Filipinas Isolan.
The Matahum and Matinlo Program has a budget of P500,000 – with P350,000 already used in the first two quarters of the year. Its workers are paid P160 a day.
In August, Councilor Powell del Rosario questioned the payrolls furnished to him by Sangguniang Panlungsod secretary Dino Beluso that same month and in late July.
He said the payrolls lacked the basic information needed in securing residence tax certificate such as middle names and addresses.
Vice Mayor Erwin Sicad made the payrolls when he was acting mayor for almost a month from July to August, according to del Rosario.
Also in July, the councilor has invited the 15 casual workers to a meeting at city hall but no one showed up.
Should they fail to show themselves “in flesh,” the workers are “ghost employees,” del Rosario said.
But Sicad earlier said “inang 15 ka mga tawo ga-exist ina.”
Panay News tried to reach Celino for comment but to no avail./PN
