GOVERNMENT auditors are collecting P45.53 million in cash shortages incurred by 84 clerks of court designated by the Supreme Court as special collection officers (SCOs).
In the 2021 management letter released last September 13, the Commission on Audit revealed that SCOs of regional trial courts had cash shortage amounting to P21.7 million, municipal trial courts in cities (P11.29 million), municipal trial court (P5.53 million), metropolitan trial courts (P3.5 million), municipal circuit trial courts (P3.51 million).
The shortages were discovered during the management audit conducted by the Fiscal Monitoring Division-Court Management Office (FMD-CMO). According to records, some date as far back as 2015.
“Records show that the amount remains unrestituted/uncollected by management due to laxity of collection enforcement undertaken by OCA (Office of the Court Administrator),” the audit team said.
Auditors noted that the collection shortages comprised 78 percent of the total “Due from Officers and Employees” account of the Supreme Court amounting to P58.36 million.
Figures on restitution were not encouraging as only one accountable officer made a settlement or restitution of P180,000 for the whole 2021.
“Management explained that no clearances were issued to the SCOs and the monetary value of their earned leave credits had already been applied against their shortages,” the audit team said.
However, they warned that the non-collection would mean a greater financial burden to the SC as the funds are supposed to go into trust funds to be returned to litigants upon resolution of their cases.
“We recommended and management agreed to exhaust all possible means to collect from the concerned SCOs and employ legal procedures to compel them to restitute cash shortages incurred,” the COA added.
