COA flags travel expenses of gov’t lawyers

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has affirmed its earlier disallowance of some P573,000 in travel expenses of lawyers from the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) assigned to APO Production Unit.

In a decision dated Jan. 14 but released Tuesday, the COA denied the petition for review filed by lawyers Efren Gonzales, Ma. Dolores Rigonan, Abegail Joan Orilla-Orara and Fiona G. Pontejos-De Leon since said petition was filed after the reglementary period of six months or 180 days lapsed.

The petition asked the audit body to review two notices of disallowance: the first handed down on Nov. 16, 2015, the second dated June 21, 2016.

Both related to the payment of monthly fixed travel, transportation and other expenses to OGCC lawyers at APO Production for 2014 and 2015, in the amount of P573,000.—Patricia Denise M. Chiu