THE Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered the municipal government of Plaridel, Misamis, Occidental to pay P5.28 million in back wages and unpaid benefits to three officials dismissed from their posts.
In a 10-page decision released last week, the COA en banc granted the petition filed by Plaridel Municipal Agricultural Technologist Melissa Sinconiegue, Municipal Accountant Daisy Masalig, and Municipal Treasurer Maria Uba claiming back wages for unpaid salaries, allowances, and other benefits they should have received from November 2017 to November 2020.
The three local government officials were reinstated when they won their case on appeal.
Based on the breakdown provided in the COA decision, Masalig will receive P2.35 million, Uba P1.99 million, and Sinconiegue P934,556.30.
The three were ordered dismissed from their respective positions on July 19, 2017 after the Ombudsman found them guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service in relation to criminal complaints for malversation of public funds.
Although they were stripped of official functions in November 2017, the three contested the findings against them and won a reversal of the decision after two years.
On October 17, 2019, the Ombudsman set aside its July 2017 resolution, prompting directives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 10 for the immediate reinstatement of the three LGU officials to their former posts as well as the payment of wages withheld.
While initially, Uba was paid P354,360.79 for salaries and mid-year bonuses covering January to June 2020, auditors flagged the payment for being premature since the process requires petitions for money claims to be filed first with the COA commission proper.
Quoting the Supreme Court, the COA en banc said dismissed government personnel who were later reinstated are entitled to back wages and other monetary benefits to be computed from the time of his/her dismissal.
“This is only fair and just because an employee who is reinstated after having been illegally dismissed is considered as not having left his office and should be given the corresponding compensation at the time of his reinstatement,” the Commission said.
