THE Commission on Audit has issued a 12-page decision reprimanding a state auditor for talking down to officials of a government agency being audited by her team and using offensive language.
Commission Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba and Commissioners Mario Lipana and Douglas Malillin found the auditor, whose name was withheld, guilty of Simple Discourtesy in the Course of Official Duties.
On top of the reprimand, she likewise received a stern warning that a repetition of her behavior in the future shall be meted out with stiffer penalties.
Records showed the auditor was named respondent in a complaint for the unprofessional and disrespectful attitude she exhibited during the exit conference with members of the Board of Directors (BOD) of the Daraga Water District in June 2023.
The complainants said they felt disrespected when the respondent used condescending words to their chairperson: “Madam, naiintindihan mo po ako? Nasundan mo ko? May background kayo sa accounting? Nasusundan mo po?” (Madam, do you understand me? Can you follow? Do you have an accounting background? Do you follow?)
They said the line of questioning and the intonation of the respondent are demeaning, degrading, and tend to impress upon others that the silence of the BOD meant they were unable to keep up in the discussion.
The water district officials likewise narrated that when the BOD chairperson asked if one justification they are offering in reply to an audit observation would be acceptable, the respondent used “discriminatory and provocative remarks” in replying: “Madam, ikaw na lang mag-interpret. Sa level mo na lang. Paano mo sya mainterpret?”
While the auditor apologized and clarified that she had no intention of belittling or insulting the concerned DAWD officials, she committed to improving he personal dealings with audited agency officers.
“Discourtesy is defined as incivility, ill manners, rudeness of behavior or language, or an impolite act. Respondent’s unprofessional and conceited manner of questioning towards the DAWD BOD can be perceived as demeaning. The discriminatory and provocative remarks made by the respondent towards the DAWD Chairperson were rude, offensive,” the COA said.
