THE Commission on Audit (COA) has denied the appeal of the Butuan City Government Employees Association (BCGEA) for the lifting of the notice of disallowance issued in 2016 against the payment of “gratuitous cash gift” in 2015 amounting to P32,075,300.12.
In a decision released last week, the COA Commission Proper affirmed the finding of the COA Region 13 that the said cash incentive paid to elected officials, regular city employees and contract of service personnel was irregular.
The commission likewise noted that the BCGEA took 250 days to file the petition for review, which was way beyond the allowable period of six months of 180 days.
“Even if this Commission considers the appeal of BCGEA… and provide leniency on the late payment of the filing fee, the petition was still filed beyond the reglementary period. This Commission finds no compelling reason to relax its procedural rules as the petitioner had not offered any substantial argument that would justify the belated filing of the petition,” the COA said.
Even if weighed on merits, it said the appeal would still be denied for lack of merit since all benefits due the city employees were already included in their wages under RA 6758 or the Salary Standardization Law.
“Thus, the grant of cash gifts for other purposes as enacted under Sangguniang Panlungsod Ordinance No. 4789-2015 is irregular. As such, it was properly disallowed in audit,” the commission said.
“All officials who approved or participated in making the disallowed transaction shall remain solidarily liable for the total amount of disallowance, while the employees who received the disallowed benefits in good faith are liable to the extent of the amount they actually received,” the COA added.
