THE Commission on Audit has instructed its Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, to evaluate records about a water supply project undertaken by the Malolos City government in 2014 for referral to the Office of the Ombudsman.
“This Commission agrees with the recommendation of the RD (regional director) to file administrative charges against the City officials concerned. The payment made to the contractor prior to the actual construction/rehabilitation of the potable water supply system to the different barangays of the City is a clear violation,” the COA said in its en banc decision released Friday.
Records showed that the city engaged the services of contractor LB Bernardo Well Drilling in 2014 for P730,227.93 to build 17 artesian wells in different barangays.
After onsite inspections during post-audit, the audit team issued a notice of disallowance based on its findings that eight out of the seventeen wells were non-existent, while another seven were not operational.
An appeal by the city officials resulted in a re-inspection on January 20, 2015 or two months after the notice of disallowance was issued. At that time, the artesian wells were found to have been completed and were working.
Nonetheless, the audit team pointed out that the contractor was already paid in full even before the work was finished and a proper turnover was made.
The COA affirmed the lifting of the notice of disallowance and cleared city mayor Christian Natividad, city accountant Marciana Jimenez, the contractor, city engineer Ricasol Millan, engineers Ronaldo Ching and Redentor dela Cruz and barangay officials of liability.
“The Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, this Commission, is instructed to evaluate the case for referral to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of the appropriate charges, if warranted, against the Officials inv ed for the advance payment made to the contractor in violation of existing laws, rules and regulations,” the COA said.
