The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed its earlier notice of disallowance of some P8.3 million given to employees of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in the form of grants and commissions, from 2012 to 2013.
In a July 4 ruling deciding on the petition for review of the PCGG officials, the COA stood firm on its earlier decision to disallow the disbursements, since they were not authorized by the Office of the President.
The bonuses which were paid to employees and officials include calamity assistance, gift checks, goodwill incentive and collective negotiation agreement incentive.
The COA maintained that the PCGG did not have the authority to grant the said incentives.
“Any grant of the abovementioned bonuses without the approval of the President will be considered as an ultra vires act and thus, constitutes an illegal disbursement of public funds. Anyone found violating this directive should be dealt with in accordance with the applicable provisions of existing administrative and penal laws,” the resolution said.