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Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence
The Sandiganbayan found convicted plunderer Janet Lim Napoles guilty of graft and malversation anew for her involvement in the P20.91 million pork barrel of ex-South Cotabato lawmaker Arthur Pingoy intended for livelihood projects that turned out to be ghost or non-existent. In a 66-page ruling handed down on Friday, the Sandiganbayan Special Second Division sentenced Napoles to up to 60 years in prison for four counts each of graft and malversation. Pingoy, however, walked free from the same charges, including direct bribery -- notwithstanding whistleblower Benhur Luy's testimony -- " for the failure of the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond reasonable doubt." Aside from "pork barrel queen" Napoles, the anti-graft court likewise convicted erstwhile officials of the now-defunct National Agribusiness Corporation Rhodora Mendoza, Maria Ninez Guanizo, Victor Roman Cacal, and Evelyn de Leon of the Philippine Social Development Foundation Inc. Pingoy, who served three full terms as a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010 -- was accused of funneling his P20.91 million Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel through bogus non-government organizations allegedly governed by Napoles in exchange for kickbacks. The Ombudsman’s probe disclosed that the projects nominated as financial assistance for farm implements, livelihood materials, and training turned out to be "ghost” projects as borne out by the Commission on Audit report and testimonies of the whistleblowers. The Sandiganbayan, however, ruled that "there is no sufficient evidence" that the erstwhile lawmaker indeed received kickbacks or commissions from Napoles. PDAF allocated to lawmakers is lump-sum and discriminatory funds intended to empower them "to identify key projects that local government units could not fund." It was later abolished by the Supreme Court in November 2013 after it became a source of corruption and was declared unconstitutional. Napoles, the principal suspect in the case, has been detained at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City since 2018 for plunder charges involving the unlawful disbursement of Senator Bong Revilla Jr.'s pork barrel worth P224 million. She is still facing several graft charges, all related to the pork barrel scam. The post Janet Napoles to serve 60 more years imprisonment sentence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro
Davao City’s confidential expenses that ballooned to P2.697 billion during Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as mayor should be probed by the Commission on Audit, a lawmaker said Monday. The call for investigation was prompted by the 2022 report of the CoA, which found that Davao City spent P2.697 billion on confidential expenses between 2016 to 2022, or an average of PP385.3 million per year over the preceding six years. Duterte served as the Davao City mayor from 2016 to 2022 before she assumed the VP post in July of last year. Based on CoA findings, Davao City incurred P144 million of confidential expenses in 2016, which was more than doubled to P293 million in 2017 and further climbed to P420 million in 2018. The city’s confidential fund expenses further grew to P460 million in 2019 and were maintained consistently for the subsequent years of 2020, 2021, and 2022. In an interview on Monday, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro, who sought the CoA probe, stressed that the P2.697 billion totality of confidential expenses of Davao City in the previous six years “could have been utilized more effectively to benefit the education sector, specifically by providing much-needed support to teachers.” “We were shocked also [by] the report of the CoA. With this controversy of confidential funds, we are thinking of asking the CoA to investigate,” she said. “The CoA should file an audit observation memo and then ask them to explain maybe the misuse of funds and then file necessary legal action.” She added, “Imagine more than a million a day spent for the confidential funds in a city. I just wonder how it was spent and where it was spent. So, we want the CoA to review if the city government of Davao City led by Vice President Sara Duterte by then really followed the guidelines or the joint circular 2015-01.” The said joint circular outlined by CoA with the Departments of Budget and Management, National Defense, and of the Interior and Local Government, and Governance Commission for GOCCs, contains guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and intelligence funds that are in the General Appropriations Act. Daily Tribune has been asking for Duterte’s comment, but she remained mum on the issue. While Castro admitted that the local government units are entitled to confidential funds for peace and order maintenance, it was “ironic” that Duterte sought allocation of such funds given that she claimed Davao City was “very peaceful, disciplined, and well” during her tenure. "So why is it necessary to have an increasingly confidential fund?" the lawmaker stressed, noting such a fund should be used for other fruitful endeavors. "I remember the time the teachers of Davao City were asking for city allowance, but she did not grant it. Instead, she refused and even got mad with ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) during that time," Castro pointed out. While none in the law limits the amount of confidential funds, the militant lawmaker pointed out that it should be rationalized. A proposed law aimed at imposing a cap and limit on confidential funds, streamlining the allocation of such that would promote transparency and accountability, is currently being crafted, according to Castro. It will be filed in Congress when the session resumes in November. The post Sara Duterte’s P2.7B confidential expenses as Davao mayor should be probed—Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COA junks money claim of Discovery Shores vs DOT
The Commission on Audit has advised a five-star luxury resort in Boracay to directly recover from former tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo, former undersecretary Katherine De Castro and three other former officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) their unpaid accommodations and meals in 2018 amounting to P456,716.50......»»
Malaysian court upholds ex-leader Najib’s audit tampering acquittal
A Malaysian court upheld on Tuesday the acquittal of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak on an audit tampering charge in the investigation into corruption at the 1MDB state wealth fund. Najib is serving a 12-year prison term on other graft charges related to the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad financial scandal. The plundering of the fund led to investigations around the world, including in the United States, Switzerland and Singapore, into the use of their financial systems to launder money. But Malaysia's Court of Appeal struck out the appeal by state prosecutors against the acquittal of the audit tampering charge after prosecutors did not submit documents in time, Najib's lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah told AFP. "In this case, the prosecution evidently found no grounds for appeal, resulting in no petition being filed," he said in a statement. Najib, the 70-year-old leader of Malaysia for nine years until 2018, was acquitted in March after a Kuala Lumpur High Court judge ruled prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence that he had tampered with an audit report on scandal-racked 1MDB. That charge focused on allegations that Najib ordered a report by the government's official audit body on the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund to be altered in February 2016. Najib's co-accused, former 1MDB chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy, was also acquitted. The former Malaysian premier's acquittal from the tampering charge does not affect his current jail sentence and he faces dozens more charges that could lengthen that term. Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor was found guilty of graft in 2022 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She remains on bail pending an appeal. The post Malaysian court upholds ex-leader Najib’s audit tampering acquittal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandigan absolves Alcala in graft raps
The Sandiganbayan has absolved ex-Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala of a graft charge involving P13.5 million of government funds illegally given to an ineligible farmers’ foundation. In a 40-page decision, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division cleared Alcala of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) purely on reasonable doubt. His co-accused, Laureano Mañalac, however, then-DA head executive assistant, was found guilty of violating the same provision of the law. He was meted up to 10 years behind bars and was permanently barred from holding public office. On top of the conviction, the court ordered him to pay P13.5 million, representing the sum paid to Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc. or IAMFI. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2018, the case stemmed from the irregular accreditation of IAMFI as a DA development partner for the construction of the Quezon Corn Trading and Processing Center at P13.5 million in 2012. Investigation revealed that IAMFI, which was an ineligible foundation but applied to become a development partner of the DA in May 2011, was controlled by Mañalac. Alcala was accused of conniving with Mañalac to release P13.5 million to IAMFI’s former president, Bautista Ella. State prosecutors said the DA’s erstwhile officials gave the IAMFI unwarranted benefit, advantage, or preference. On 17 July 2019, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the case against Ella owing to his passing. Authenticated document The prosecution’s investigation further revealed that IAMFI submitted together with its application for accreditation an authenticated articles of incorporation, concealing that Mañalac is an incorporator, which was in violation of the Commission on Audit Circular 2007-001, and was “highly irregular.” According to the prosecutors, the DA fell short when it failed to investigate its unlawful grant of P13.5 million in funding to the IAMFI, to which it is not entitled to. “The government suffered undue injury in the amount of P13,500,000, which was illegally given to the IAMFI due to the acts of Manalac. Instead of giving the funds to a qualified foundation, it was given to one ineligible being controlled by Mañalac,” the Sandiganbayan said, brushing off the accused claim that the sum was legally awarded to the foundation. In acquitting Alcala, the anti-graft court ruled that despite the prosecution’s serious efforts, it failed to prove that the ex-DA secretary violated RA 3019. “The court, however, is compelled on reasonable doubts grounds to acquit Alcala of the crime as he claims to have relied on multiple layers of review by his subordinates.” Further, it ruled that “no evident bad faith” could be attributed to Alcala in accrediting and signing the memorandum of agreement with IAMFI; instead, it found that all the offense elements have been proven beyond reasonable doubt in the case of Mañalac. According to the Sandiganbayan, it was “very clear that Mañalac was involved in the processing of the proposal of IAMFI.” Mañalac, who resigned from the DA on 30 September 2012, was “immaterial” and “will not serve to exculpate him,” the court said. “Even with Mañalac’s departure from the DA, the proposal would continue to go through the application process in view of the PMO’s positive preliminary recommendation,” it added. The post Sandigan absolves Alcala in graft raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Thursday confirmed that there will be a P120-million increase in confidential and intelligence funds for the fiscal year 2024. In a Malacañang press briefing, Pangandaman said the increase is due to additional confidential funds allocated to three government agencies. These agencies include the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Presidential Security Group (PSG). A 2015 joint circular released by five government agencies defines confidential expenses as those of surveillance activities in civilian government agencies. According to the same 2015 joint circular, intelligence funds are those related to intel information-gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel that directly impact national security. Pangandaman justified the increase in the CIF, saying it is necessary to support the government's efforts to protect national security and ensure the safety of the President and other government officials. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. For example, in the case of DICT, the increase is for cybersecurity, which is essential as we push for digitalization," Pangandaman said. "Cybersecurity investment is parallel to our digitalization efforts. Why does it need to be confidential? It's because of the procurement process. You cannot disclose the technical specifications of your cybersecurity projects in the Terms of Reference (TOR) because hackers might see it. If they have access to the specs, our cybersecurity projects and programs won't be effective," she added. Pangandaman said the administration is confident that the proposed allocations for intelligence funds are well-justified. "The additional funds were allocated for specific purposes. We can assure the public that these intelligence and confidential funds will be beneficial to the country," Pangandaman said. In a separate statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said there also an increase in the CIF in the Armed Forces of the Philippines; National Security Council; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, and; the Office of the Ombudsman. Meanwhile, there has been a decrease in the CIF allocated for the Philippine Competition Commission, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Department of Justice. On the other hand, the confidential funds of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President remain at the same level as the 2023 General Appropriations Act. DBM likewise emphasized the declining percentage contribution of CIF in the national budget in recent years, decreasing from 0.215 percent in 2018, 0.192 percent in 2019, 0.235 percent in 2020, 0.212 percent in 2021, 0.183 percent in 2022, 0.190 percent in 2023, to 0.176 percent in 2024. "With these, the public can remain confident that the disbursement and utilization of the CIF will be done by government agencies with utmost transparency and accountability, in strict adherence to existing guidelines set forth by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the appropriate allocation and use of these funds," DBM said. Budget Cuts Meanwhile, DBM said the budget cut for the University of the Philippines (UP) under the proposed 2024 expenditure plan will not affect student admissions. In the Palace briefing, Pangandaman said the P2.93 billion reduction in the UP budget for 2024 resulted from the removal of budgetary requirements for several infrastructure projects scheduled for completion this year. “So if it's for completion in 2023, we don’t need the funding for 2024,” Pangandaman said. Asked if the budget cut will translate to a reduction in the number of students admitted to UP, Pangandaman said none. The DBM added it also took into account how much of UP's budget was used the year previously when determining the proposed NEP's budget allocation. “Hence, in our review and evaluation of UP’s budget proposals, we considered its absorptive capacity, which is 69.48% as of end-2022,” it said. The post Confidential and intelligence funds increase P120M in 2024, UP budget cut P2.93B appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CoA flags PCG for unauthorized purchase of luxury vehicle
The Commission on Audit flagged the Philippine Coast Guard for bypassing Malacañang's order when it acquired a P4.99 million luxury vehicle in 2022. According to the audit report, the PCG acquired Toyota Land Cruiser Prado costing P4.99 million last year, notwithstanding Malacañang's Administrative Order No. 14 prohibiting all government agencies from acquiring and using luxury vehicles for their operations. AO No. 14 was issued by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2018. Under AO No. 14, a vehicle could be considered luxury if its engine displacement exceeds 2700 cc for a sports utility vehicle or SUV with an engine exceeding four cylinders. According to the audit, "Review of the Sales Invoices of the properties acquired through rebates disclosed that the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado costing P4,999,000.00 (net of discount of P201,000.00), with engine displacement of 3956 CC and engine of six cylinders is considered a 'luxury vehicle'." The audit also revealed that the acquisition of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado through rebates was made without approval by the Department of Budget and Management. The PCG also made the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado bulletproof for P2.80 million. The audit on the PCG also showed that it procured 31 brand new Isuzu MUX LS-A 4×2 vehicles worth a total of P58.9 million. State auditors pointed out that "the necessity of acquiring new vehicles to utilize the rebates from Petron Corporation cannot be adequately established," taking to account that the PCG and its districts owned approximately 459 service vehicles. In response to the audit, the PCG explained that "the acquisition of Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is deemed necessary for the PCG to ensure safe and secured transportation of the Commandant and to uphold PCG's mandated functions." The PCG added that "the acquisition of vehicles through rebates is an opportunity for the PCG to capacitate the Command to become more responsive to the challenges prompting the organization." The CoA, nonetheless, said the PCG should secure an ex post facto approval from the Secretary of Budget and Management on the acquisition of the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado pursuant to AO No. 14 s. 2018, and submit such approval to the Office of the Auditor. The post CoA flags PCG for unauthorized purchase of luxury vehicle appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Delayed projects due to unforeseen factors, says MMDA
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Tuesday clarified that the delay in the implementation of the flood management projects recently flagged down by the Commission on Audit was due to a number of factors. MMDA acting chairman Atty. Don Artes said the 33 projects under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project Phase 1 which were not yet fully implemented as of December 2022 are funded by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He explained that since it is a foreign-assisted project, the procurement process is different from the usual early procurement process under Republic Act 9184. “The projects underwent a tedious process and discussion with the World Bank before they were approved and implemented,” Artes said. “The WB reviews the bidding process done by the MMDA. Sometimes, they recommend continuation of the project rejected by our agency which in turn results in contract cost and duration revision.” The MMDA chief also said that the site relocation or project re-design was approved by the World Bank, adding that it is the World Bank that recommends and decides whether a contract shall be extended and coverage widened. Artes likewise said that the period of the projects being questioned was within the period 2018-2022, years when pandemic hit the country while some projects were covered by the election ban which both contributed to the delay of its implementation. He assured that the MMFMP-Project Management Office is now closely monitoring all the project deliverables to ensure that they were implemented within the given timeframe. Out of the 47 projects mentioned in the CoA report, 27 were completed as of this time, 12 are ongoing and will be completed this year, three are ongoing procurement process, and five were already abandoned as they are no longer necessary or relevant. Meantime, Artes also stressed that the 71 vehicles that the CoA flagged as unregistered in its 2022 report are all off the road as they are beyond repair and clarified that all vehicles without registration from the Land Transportation Office are already for disposal as junk. “The disposal process is long and we are currently disassembling its parts so we can use it for our serviceable vehicles,” Artes said. He added that the agency regularly conduct quarterly LTO caravan to ensure timely registration of our vehicles. Last 6 and 15 February 2023, the LTO held its two-day registration caravan, on the request of MMDA and the 216 vehicles that the CoA revealed to be beyond its useful lifespan of seven years for government service vehicles are still functional and are maintained properly. Artes said that the service vehicles he and other agency officials are using are all almost at the end of their useful life but have no intention of retiring and replacing them and will continue to be used because they are in very good running condition The post Delayed projects due to unforeseen factors, says MMDA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG earns CoA’s highest audit rating anew
Commission on Audit’s or CoA’s highest audit rating was conferred on shelter financier PagIBIG Fund for the presentation of its financial statements for the 11th consecutive year. State auditors, in a letter dated 22 June, informed Pag-IBIG Fund that it has rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of the presentation of its financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022. In the same letter, CoA upgraded its prior issued modified opinion on the agency’s books for 2021, after PagIBIG Fund enhanced its data migration system following the state auditors’ recommendations. These developments have enabled the agency to maintain its streak of garnering CoA’s highest audit rating for the 11th straight year. Agency milestone “This is truly a significant milestone in Pag-IBIG Fund’s history. Earning the highest opinion from CoA for the 11th consecutive year is yet another proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed properly. This is a testament to how Pag-IBIG Fund upholds excellence and integrity in managing their funds, in the fulfillment of our mandates and in line with the directive of President Marcos of providing Filipinos with more stable and more prosperous lives,” Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees, said. This is truly a significant milestone in Pag-IBIG Fund’s history. Earning the highest opinion from COA for the 11th consecutive year is yet another proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed properly. CoA rendered unqualified opinions on Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial statements from 2012 to 2017 and unmodified opinions for the years 2018 to 2022. The post Pag-IBIG earns CoA’s highest audit rating anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pag-IBIG Fund earns COA’s highest audit rating for record 11th straight year
Pag-IBIG Fund has earned the Commission on Audit’s highest audit rating on the presentation of its financial statements for the 11th consecutive year, top officials announced on Monday, 3 July. State auditors, in a letter dated June 22, informed Pag-IBIG Fund that it has rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of the presentation of its financial statements for the years 2021 and 2022. In the same letter, COA upgraded its prior issued modified opinion on the agency’s books for the year 2021, after Pag-IBIG Fund enhanced its data migration system following the state auditors’ recommendations. These developments have enabled the agency to maintain its streak of garnering COA’s highest audit rating for the 11th straight year. “This is truly a significant milestone in Pag-IBIG Fund’s history. Earning the highest opinion from COA for the 11th consecutive year is yet another proof that Pag-IBIG Fund has been, and continues to be, managed properly. This is a testament to how Pag-IBIG Fund upholds excellence and integrity in managing their funds, in the fulfillment of our mandates and in line with the directive of President Marcos of providing Filipinos with more stable and more prosperous lives,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. COA rendered unqualified opinions on Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial statements from 2012 to 2017 and unmodified opinions for the years 2018 to 2022. Auditors use both unqualified and unmodified opinions, which are the highest opinions that COA can give to a government agency or corporation, to mean that the financial statements of a company or agency are presented, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable financial reporting frameworks. Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta, meanwhile, emphasized the value of the state auditor’s findings citing that these fittingly complete the agency’s best performing year of 2022. “The year 2022 stands out as our best performing year yet, as we posted our highest ever annual net income of P44.50 billion. We also posted record-highs in home loan takeout worth P117.85 billion which benefitted 105,212 members who now have new or better homes, membership savings collections amounting to P79.90 billion and loan payment collections worth P127.42 billion. We also extended P53.76 billion in short-term loans to aid a record-high 2,612,491 members with their financial needs. In the same year, we also launched service innovations such as the Virtual Pag-IBIG Mobile App and the Lingkod Pag-IBIG On Wheels, which now provide our members better access to our services and benefits.” Acosta said. “With our 2022 performance capped by this unmodified opinion from COA, this shows that we have achieved our best performance ever while maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity. This is what our members and stakeholders can expect from us, that we shall remain transparent in our operations and serve them with excellence and integrity,” Acosta added. The post Pag-IBIG Fund earns COA’s highest audit rating for record 11th straight year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Corregidor Foundation’s P61.6-M payment flagged
State auditors have called the attention of the Corregidor Foundation Inc. for paying P61.66 million in personnel services between 2018 and 2022 without presidential consent. The Commission on Audit said CFI’s total compensation framework was not approved by the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations or GCG. CoA said the foundation disregarded the GCG’s recommendation that it submit a Total Compensation Framework in 2017 containing information like its compensation structure, financial and non-financial bonuses, and allowances. It said that CFI started drafting new employment contracts in February 2018 using GOCC rates under the Salary Standardization Law, thereby raising wages for all its employees. The CFI board passed a resolution that year to convert the foundation into a chartered government organization. CoA pointed out that CFI engaged in an unlawful compensation increase without obtaining the necessary legal authorization from the GCG and the Office of the President. CFI claims to be a private corporation that is therefore exempt from the application of Republic Act 10149, or the GOCC Governance Act. However, CoA countered that CFI is subject to audit because it was deemed a GOCC by the GCG in CoA Decision 2010-095 dated 21 October 2010 that was upheld by the Supreme Court The post Corregidor Foundation’s P61.6-M payment flagged appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bum deal brings pain
A contract inherited from the previous Land Transportation Office regime is now a major cause of headaches for the leadership of the agency and, in effect, the entire nation as it caused the delay in the release of driver’s licenses. German firm-led joint venture Dermalog introduced the Land Transportation Management System or LTMS which is a P3.4-billion project awarded in 2018. The dispute over the contract is the crux of the stalled distribution of the cards. The company has been disqualified from the contract to produce the plastic licenses, which it assumed from Allcard which failed to perform its obligations. Worse, in 2020, according to documents filed with the Ombudsman, Dermalog “interfered in and controlled the LTO’s printing system of driver’s license cards.” LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade inherited the problem after he was appointed in November 2022. With the actions it took, Dermalog was considered by LTO officials a “threat to national security.” Post-qualification of Dermalog for the contract was based on the ground of its failure “to fully comply with its obligations under its 2017 contract with LTO.” A 2021 report of the Commission on Audit flagged LTO’s payment of P3.15 billion to Dermalog despite several defects that delayed and disrupted the system. LTO is conducting an extensive probe which may lead to the possible scrapping of the Dermalog contract. Congress is ready to probe the alleged “illegal payment” despite the “incomplete turnover of deliverables.” The circumstances proved that the contract was in clear violation of procurement and auditing rules, warranting an extensive probe. The German-led venture had reneged on the deal more than four years after the December 2018 delivery date as the system is still not fully functional and fully rolled out. The Dermalog system was incompatible with the LTO processes that needed to be adjusted to accommodate the new system’s functions. The Ombudsman in denying Dermalog’s petition to cite bidding committee officials for graft said: “Respondents (members of LTO bidding body) did not commit any irregularity when they objected to the post-qualification of the complainant (Dermalog) in the 2021 procurement.” “It also took Dermalog until 2 July 2021 to agree to turn over all “source codes,” in escrow, create an upload facility and include it in the Inventory Management System, thereby removing LTO’s dependency on it; and grant to LTO the exclusive right to use the watermark or hologram delivered to it, “recognizing in the process the need of the LTO to be independent of the vendor as a lesson from the past.” “Its avowed intention to turn over in escrow only means that it has not indeed fully complied with its obligations under the 2017 procurement,” according to the Ombudsman’s resolution. The Ombudsman said it was not inclined “to indict respondents (LTO bidding officials) for violation of Section 3 of Republic Act 3019 for delay under RA 9184 when the facts, as they are in this case, showed that Dermalog has not been candid in its business dealings with LTO and has, by itself, caused the delay it complains about.” The dispute over the contract has held hostage the LTO, the Department of Transportation, and Filipino motorists to Dermalog’s demand that the government pay it in full despite its shortcomings. Eventually, the deficiency from the deal reflects on the image of the administration since it has been quite a while since inefficiency has been a distinctive complaint against frontline service providers. The post Bum deal brings pain appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
COA hits credit registry over delayed project
The Commission on Audit has called out the Credit Information Corp. a state-run lending registry under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, over its delayed computerization project worth P4.8 million that should have been completed in 2018......»»
DILG: Show-cause order vs Manila Mayor Isko was honest mistake
The DILG withdrew Friday a show-cause order it says it “inadvertently” issued against Manila Mayor Isko Moreno that ordered him to explain a 2018 anti-drug abuse audit, when he was not part of the city government......»»
COA flags NDCP for P521 million unfinished projects
The Commission on Audit has called out the National Defense College of the Philippines over two unfinished construction projects amounting to P521.73 million initiated in 2018......»»
Government intel spending up P2.03 billion in 2019 – COA
The Duterte administration’s confidential, intelligence and extraordinary fund spending went up to P13.466 billion in 2019 or an increase of P2.03 billion compared with that of 2018, according to the Commission on Audit 2019 Annual Financial Report......»»
Flooding in Metro could have been prevented – COA
Flooding in Metro Manila – especially in Marikina, Makati, Manila and Quezon City – could have been minimized or prevented had the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority completed major flood control projects programmed for 2018 and 2019, the Commission on Audit said in a report......»»
Taxpayers given easy way to settle liabilities
The Department of Finance said it issued a regulation allowing taxpayers to voluntarily settle their tax deficiencies even without an audit for the taxable year 2018......»»
COA cites AFP for delayed modernization projects
The Commission on Audit has called out the Armed Forces of the Philippines over its poor implementation of billions of pesos worth of projects under the AFP Modernization Program, a majority of which should have been completed in 2018 and 2019......»»
COA flags PIDS for P81 million unfinished research projects
The Commission on Audit has flagged the Philippine Institute for Development Studies for P81 million worth of unfinished research projects, majority of which should have been completed in 2018 and 2019......»»