Army has P1.6B in unliquidated cash advances
By Christian V. Esguerra
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:11:00 09/25/2008
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Army still has to account for almost P1.6 billion in unliquidated cash advances since 2003, according to party-list representative Satur Ocampo, citing the Commission on Audit.
Ocampo said he would raise the issue at the House sub-committee deliberations on Thursday on the proposed budget for 2009 of P56.54 billion for national defense.
The Army is seeking a P29.87 billion budget for next year.
Ocampo, citing COA annual reports, said part of the cash advances was spent for “payroll and travel of officials.”
“This may only be the tip of the iceberg of AFP corruption,” he said.
COA recommendation
Ocampo said the Army has apparently ignored “significant COA recommendations that aim to correct the pattern of non-liquidation of cash advances.”
He was referring to COA Circular 97-002 on the “grant, utilization, and liquidation of cash advances,” and provisions of the Government Auditing Code.
“The House should consider inserting special provisions in the Army and AFP budgets, requiring them to accomplish COA recommendations,” he said.
The unliquidated amounts date back to the time of Army Chief Lt. Gen. Efren Abu, who later became Armed Forces chief of staff. Under Abu, the Army accumulated P997.5 million in unliquidated cash advances, the highest in the past five years.
During the then Army chief, now AFP Chief Gen. Alexander Yano, the Army had P335.6 million in cash advances last year that still has to be accounted for, according to the COA.
Unliquidated cash advances under Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga in 2004 amounted to P103.5 million, while those under Lt. Gen. Romeo Tolentino in 2006 was P90 million.
The Army also has yet to liquidate P69.8 million in cash advances accumulated during the term of now presidential peace adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. in 2005.
Yano, Senga, Tolentino and Esperon all headed the Army before becoming AFP chief.
Ocampo said this unchecked practice of unliquidated cash advances in the Army tend to affect the lower-ranked soldiers the most.
Overpaid CAFGU
In 2007, he said the Army failed to distribute combat clothing and individual equipment benefits worth P5.77 million to the 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions alone.
However, the Army allegedly “overpaid” Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) active auxiliaries in the 5th, 7th, and 8th IDs to the tune of P1.95 million.
A total of P2.59 million went to those in the 6th ID whose names were either entered twice or had the same serial numbers in the list, according to Ocampo.
In the proposed P29.87-billion Army budget for 2009, P25.5 billion is allocated for personal services, while P4.3 billion is earmarked for maintenance and other operating expenses.
The total Army budget proposal for next year is P3.7 billion higher than the current one.
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