ILOILO City – The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has been urged to investigate city government finances here flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA).
A complaint filed by Amádo Jubelag Hollero, former barangay captain of Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes, revolves around a reported P41-million COA disallowance during the administration of then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
This included the P39.7-million disallowance relating to the purchase of a landfill compactor in 2014, flagged by COA for lacking proper documentation.
The COA issued a Notice of Disallowance (ND), which has since become final and executory.
State auditors also flagged a 2013 transaction wherein the city government allegedly failed to charge a contractor the required P1-million in withholding tax, resulting in another disallowance.
In his letter to Epicurus Chario Salcedo, acting director of the Ombudsman-Visayas, Hollero highlighted adverse findings in COA’s Annual Audit Reports (AAR) regarding the Iloilo City government finances in 2014.
Hollero pointed out that the case underwent various processes, including the issuance of an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) but the city government allegedly failed to provide satisfactory action or explanation.
The complainant formally submitted a Request for Assistance (RAS) to the Ombudsman, emphasizing the importance of accountability and transparency in public office.
“I do so in shared pursuit for accountability and transparency of our government leaders and workers,” Hollero stated in his complaint dated Feb. 5./PN
