THE Commission on Audit has denied the claim of a finance official of the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) for unpaid back salaries and emoluments totaling P3.52 million.
The COA en banc said the petition was not supported by sufficient documents to establish the propriety of the claim or the computation of the amount owed.
Claimant TUP chief administrative officer Marites Bolaños said she is owed compensation from April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018 when her salaries were suspended “due to non-compliance with repeated directives to submit disbursement vouchers (DVs)” relative to the payments to contractors for TUP infrastructure projects in 2006 to 2008.
Auditors also included her among officials of the state university held liable in two Notices of Disallowance (NDs) on findings that there were excessive payments made to contractors as well as irregular payment of contractors’ retention fees.
Bolaños said she exhausted all legal remedies available to her by filing motions for reconsideration before the COA en banc in 2018 and elevating the matter to the Supreme Court in 2020 after failing to get a favorable ruling from the commission.
Her salary was only restored effective January 2019 after several discussions with the COA Legal Affairs Office and the COA-National Government Sector Cluster 5.
In her petition, she said she had already submitted the original DVs in 2007 and 2008 which were received by the state auditors hence it was impossible for her to submit documents that are no longer in her custody.
She added that the suspension of her salary was arbitrary as it was imposed despite the absence of a resolution.
In addition, she pointed out that the Office of the Ombudsman only penalized her with a one-month suspension for simple neglect of duty in connection with the same transactions.
The audit team leader opposed the grant of the claim because the daily records of attendance submitted were neither signed nor duly approved, she had no records of Individual Performance Commitment and Review (IPCR), and the Notice of Disallowance regarding the irregular retention fees of contractors in the sum of P4.43 million was affirmed.
“This Commission denies the money claim. The documents submitted are not sufficient to establish the propriety of the money claim. Likewise, the amount of Ms. Bolaños’ claim cannot be validated due to the absence of duly signed and approved DTRs/DRAs and Leaves of Absence; IPCRs showing at least satisfactory rating for the period claimed; and Certification of Non-Payment of the claim,” the COA said.
However, the TUP official was informed that she may refile her claim once she has completed the documentary requirements.
