The appropriations committee of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has decided to
exclude the budget allocation for the Office of Governance, Accountability and
Reform (OGAR) for the year 2024, effectively abolishing the controversial anti-
corruption body created by Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado.
The SP Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Vice Governor Dionisio Victor
Balite, approved the entire provincial government budget for 2024, amounting to
P4.2 billion, minus the P7.6 million budget for OGAR, in its committee report this
week.
The committee report will be presented for second reading in the next SP session on
Tuesday.
All the members of the committee, namely Board Members Aldner Damalerio, Gloria
Gementiza, Atty. Tomas Abapo, Atty. Jamie Villamor, Tita Baja and committee vice-
chair Romulo Cepedoza, voted to scrap the budget of OGAR.
This comes after the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 2, presided by Judge
Jennifer Chavez-Marcos, declared two executive orders issued by Aumentado as
unconstitutional and void in a court decision dated October 31, 2023.
The executive orders, namely EO No. 2 dated July 30, 2022 and EO No. 2-A dated
December 16, 2022, established and expanded the coverage of OGAR, a body
composed of five members (led by former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco)
appointed by the governor, with the power to investigate, audit, review and
recommend actions on any matter involving the provincial government and its
officials and employees.
The court decision was in response to a petition filed by Larry Pamugas, former
officer-in-charge of the provincial agriculture office, who challenged the legality of
OGAR and its actions against him.
The court has ruled that the executive orders violated the principle of separation of
powers, the doctrine of local autonomy, the Civil Service Law, the Local Government
Code, and the Constitution.
RTC Judge Marcos ordered the respondents, including Aumentado, OGAR
members, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to
cease and desist from implementing the executive orders and to restore the status
quo ante of the petitioners.
The court decision was hailed by the petitioners and their supporters as a victory for
justice and democracy.
OGAR, on the other hand, has been criticized by individuals belonging to the political
opposition of the province.
They accused OGAR of being a tool of political harassment, intimidation, and witch-
hunt, and of usurping the functions of the Commission on Audit (COA), the
Ombudsman, and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
They also questioned the qualifications, credibility, and impartiality of the OGAR
members, some of whom were former political allies or appointees of Aumentado.
Aumentado, however, defended OGAR as a necessary measure to ensure good
governance, accountability, and reform in the provincial government.
The governor said OGAR was not meant to persecute anyone, but to protect the
public interest and the welfare of the Boholanos.
He vowed to appeal the court decision and to continue his fight against corruption
and inefficiency in the province.
Meanwhile, Aumentado supporters have expressed their criticism on the SP for
scrapping the OGAR budget.
They say that OGAR is the best thing that ever happened to Bohol. They also say
that they will support Aumentado and OGAR no matter what.
Following the scrapping of OGAR budget, social media blogger Willy Ramasola and
OGAR member, wrote a cryptic post on FB, saying: “Naay mga nag ingon nga
kauban kuno sila sa atong krusada. Pero sa tinuod naa diay mga lain agenda ug
hangtod ra man diay sa istorya.”
APPEAL
The legal team of Governor Aumentado will reportedly respond to the court decision
by filing a motion for reconsideration (MR) to plead for a reversal of the order that
nullified the executive orders that created OGAR.
Former Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Lim, in a radio interview, defended OGAR as a
necessary measure to ensure good governance, accountability, and reform in the
provincial government.
Lim, a lawyer, said OGAR will continue to function even without a budget.
Gov. Aumentado, in his State of the Province Address (SOPA), claimed that OGAR
was his biggest accomplishment in his first 100 days in office and that it was a
continuation of his campaign promise that earned him the support of the majority of
the voters.
He said he took steps to rid the Capitol of unscrupulous people who have soiled the
good reputation of Boholanos.
Bohol Provincial Government proposes P8.5M budget for OGAR in 2024
The Office of Government Accountability and Review (OGAR) of the Provincial
Government of Bohol has submitted its proposed budget for the year 2024,
amounting to P8,517,600.00.
The budget proposal was prepared by OGAR Head Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., reviewed
by Provincial Budget Officer Peter Ross M. Retutal, and approved by Governor Erco
Aristotle C. Aumentado.
The proposed budget covers the maintenance and other operating expenditures
(MOOE) and the capital outlay (CO) of OGAR, which is the office that handles the
complaints, requests, and feedbacks from the public regarding the services and
programs of the provincial government.
The MOOE, which accounts for P7,617,600.00 of the total budget, includes the
expenses for traveling, training, office supplies, telephone, subscription, professional
services, general services, repair and maintenance, and other miscellaneous items.
The CO, which amounts to P900,000.00, includes the expenses for furniture and
fixtures, and office equipment.
The proposed budget for 2024 is slightly lower than the current year estimate of
P8,617,600.00, which was based on the actual and estimated expenditures of the
OGAR for the year 2022.
The OGAR budget proposal is part of the annual budget preparation process of the
provincial government, which aims to allocate the resources efficiently and effectively
to meet the needs and expectations of the Boholanos.