THE Commission on Audit has affirmed the liability of former Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) president and chief executive officer Ma. Theresa Defensor and eight other former executives of the government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) in relation to disallowed bonuses and allowances totaling P6.47 million paid to officers and employees in 2010.
Held liable together with Defensor were senior vice presidents Segundo Gaston and Miriam Pasetes, vice president for human resources Janice Day Alejandrino, senior assistant VP Susan Vales, assistant VP Carlos Paulino, and senior managers Consolacion Ilagan, Felicidad Castro, and Anatalia Cordova.
In the decision released last May 2, the COA Commission Proper denied the petition for review filed by the PNCC officials and affirmed the notices of disallowance issued in 2011 against the P5.86 million anniversary bonuses and P605,500 excess payment of uniform allowances.
While the appeal was filed after 236 days or beyond the 180 days allowed by COA rules, the commission relaxed the deadline to weigh the petition on its merits.
Records showed the anniversary bonus was paid on PNCC’s 44th anniversary which is not considered a “milestone year.” Milestone years are an agency’s 15th year and every fifth year after.
On the grant of the uniform allowance, auditors noted that the amount distributed was P6,500 per employee when only P4,000 is allowed under RA 9970 or the General Appropriations Act of 2010.
With the ruling, the COA ordered all those held liable and employees who received the bonus and allowances to return the sum to the PNCC.
“The natural consequence of a finding that the allowances and benefits were illegally disbursed, is the consequent obligation on the part of all the recipients to restore said amounts to the government coffers,” the commission said.
At the same time, it said the PNCC Board of Directors could be held liable if a review of their participation warrants their inclusion in the notices of disallowance.
“The Audit Team Leader and the Supervising Auditor, PNCC, are instructed to evaluate the participation of the members of the PNCC Board of Directors who approved the resolution granting the disallowed benefit and to issue a Supplemental ND, if warranted,” the COA added.
