Four BMs question OGAR as SP okays budget 

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) during the regular session on Dec. 13, 2022 approved on third reading, the 2023 provincial budget of P3.9 billion but with at least a few board members belonging to the opposition, raising some questions about OGAR, or the Office of Government Accountability and Review.

Board members Aldner Damalerio, Benjie Arcamo, Vierna Mae Boniel-Maglasang and Elipidio Bonita manifested their concerns about OGAR’s budgetary allocation and other matters related to the said office.

This was revealed by Damalerio in a radio interview on Dec. 15, 2022, over Newsmakers ug Uban Pa hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado,

Damalerio manifested his concerns and objection as regards OGAR, its budget, etc.

“Pabor ta sa tanang mga budgets sa ubang mga departments, except lang sa usa, [kining OGAR],” he said in the interview.

He questioned some of the personalities included in the composition of OGAR. Damalerio mentioned during the interview the names of former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. and former Tagbilaran City mayor Dan Neri Lim. To recall, Lim ran for city mayor in the last elections and lost to his niece-in-law Jane Cajes-Yap.

In effect, Lim is covered by the law stating prohibition of his appointment as a government employee for a year after the elections. The last election was on May 9, 2022. Therefore, Lim cannot be appointed to a government position before May 9, 2023.

Damalerio said in the interview that according to Provincial Legal Officer Handel Lagunay, the two personalities, Evasco and Lim, can hold the positions assigned to them in OGAR because they are accepting the OGAR responsibilities on a voluntary basis. In this case, Damalerio said, the two (Evasco and Lim), by virtue of their positions at OGAR may and can file a complaint against  any official but, in return, both can’t be held liable for any administrative case because they’re working on a volunteer status.

“Mahug ug unfair pod ug mocomplain sila [Evasco and Lim] kay mahimo man nga mo complain sila batok sa usa ka government official pero ang ilang gi faylan ug complaint or ang gi-complainan dili maka counter,” Damalerio explained.

Moreover, Damalerio pointed out that in investigating a case, there is a possibility that Evasco and Lim may carry some political biases especially if the complaint filed is against the previous administrations since it is a fact that both are supporters of the present administration.

Just moments after his assumption into office last June 30, 2022, Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado signed an executive order creating OGAR to be headed by Evasco with the purpose of reviewing the transactions of the previous provincial administrations including the one manned by then Gov. Art Yap and/or by then Gov. Edgar Chatto. To recall, Evasco lost the gubernatorial race in 2019 to Yap by a slim margin.

Damalerio clarified that he wants transparency and this the reason he is raising all these concerns about OGAR.

Damalerio wishes that another person should be at the helm of OGAR, a person who has no political linkage to or bias against any of the members of the past administrations.

OGAR’S BUDGET

Initially, OGAR’s budget was pegged at P15 million.  However, it was reduced to P8 million as the budget of P15 million pesos is now divided into two (2) sources. But, in totality and in reality, the OGAR budget is still P15 million divided into: P8 million charged to OGAR and P7 million to be charged to the Office of the Governor. Even if the P7 million peso budget will be charged to the office of the governor, the funds will still be used for and by OGAR, Damalerio said. Damalerio stressed that a P15 million budget for OGAR is high. 

Based on the breakdown, OGAR’s budget will be spent on consultancy services, office equipment, travel expenses, communication expenses, and personnel services, among others.

Damalerio added that he and three others – Arcamo, Maglasang, Bonita – raised their manifestations on the OGAR budget.

“Pare-pareha mi ug stand. The point nga among gi raise is between an executive order and a provincial ordinance. OGAR was established based on an executive order. Naa pod tay ge-eatablish nga Provincial Internal Audit Office (PIAO) nga maoy gatan-aw pod sa mga audit procedures ug mga transactions sa provincial government. For me personally, I find it redundant ba nga naay OGAR [unya] naay PIAO pod,” Damalerio explained.

PIAO was established via an ordinance while  OGAR was created through an executive order, Damalerio pointed out.

He stressed that there is a chance for conflict because the PIAO may find a transaction in order or above board but same transaction may be found anomalous by OGAR. If this happens, which decision will prevail: the one made by the PIAO or the findings of OGAR?

Damalerio said that OGAR has yet to submit its recommendations, however, there are already perceptions indicating that the said agency has already obtained pieces of evidence to nail down alleged anomalous transaction/s committed by the previous administration/s.

“Mas maayo unta ug naay actual paper trail or actual nga case or complaint versus sa statement nga ga plano pa ug galantaw na pag-una sa unsay possible nga mahitabo. [Kanang] actual gyud bitaw nga naay gipasa [nga mga dokumento]. Mao pod na ang usa sa atong gi-question,” he added.

COA’S INVOLVEMENT

Another question raised by Damalerio is the role of the COA in the review of government transactions.

“Ang gitagaan ug mandato sa gobyerno [sa pag review sa government transactions] is ang Commission on Audit (COA). COA looks into the transaction sa gobyerno. Ang COA gud ang mo review sa tibook transaction sa gobyerno.

Ang provincial government gagama pod ug internal audit nga mao ang PIAO. So naa na ang PIAO; naa na ang internal audit office; naa na pod ang Commission on Audit. Duha na sila gabantay,” Damalerio pointed out.

Based on the information received at a committee meeting, according to the PIAO, transactions of the provincial government from August 2022 and earlier have been cleared by the Commission on Audit (COA). The COA is a body tasked by the Constitution to audit the transactions of all government offices and instrumentalities.

“Kung nakapasar na sya [transaction] sa COA unya reviewhon ug balik sa OGAR, which one ang naay authority nga dapigan sa gobyerno?” Damalerio asked.

Observers say that the previous administration/s received the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping. However, if anomalies and acts of corruption are already perceived to have been committed by the previous administration/s, was the award on good financial management received by the previous administration valid or not?

What do you think?