INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has called out officials of Liloan town in Cebu province for its 207 orders of “lechon” (roasted pig) last year worth P1.357 million — which state auditors described as an “unnecessary and irregular” expense.
In its review of the 2022 financial transactions of the Liloan local government, the COA said lechon were served in activities, such as “team building, religious activities, founding anniversaries of private groups, graduation exercises, general assemblies and get-togethers, among others.”
The agency said these purchases are contrary to the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160 (Local Government Code) and COA Circular No. 2012-003 issued on Oct. 29, 2012, which sets the rules for excessive, irregular and unnecessary expenditures.
“(The purchase of lechon) deprived the constituents of projects or services that could have been derived from the use of the said funds,” the COA said.
An 8-kilogram to 10-kilogram lechon, a delicacy which Cebu is famous for, sells for P6,500 to P7,500.
State auditors advised Liloan officials to refrain from incurring expenses for religious and private purposes and ensure that limited government resources are spent with “efficiency, economy and effectiveness.”
Donation
Liloan Mayor Aljew Frasco, in his response to the COA’s report, said the local government did not buy the lechon but “simply made a cash donation for cultural activity.”
The recipients, he said, bought lechon “in consonance with the Filipino tradition of highlighting any gathering with roasted pig.”
But state auditors contested Aljew’s defense, saying the disbursement vouchers and its supporting documents revealed that it was the town’s bids and awards committee (BAC) that bought the lechon.
Aljew is a cousin of Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco (fifth district). Aljew was elected vice mayor of Liloan in the May 2022 elections while his running mate, Christina Garcia-Frasco, Vincent Franco’s wife, and daughter of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, won as mayor.
When Christina was appointed secretary of the Department of Tourism last year, Aljew took over as mayor.
Various events
Among the lechon requests that Liloan had granted were from private organizations, Parish Pastoral Council and other religious groups, such as Knights of Columbus, local schools and barangay councils.
These were served in events, such as anniversary celebrations, assemblies, capacity-building activities and training, program launches, graduation ceremonies, homecomings, and thanksgiving and Christmas parties.
The Liloan government also bought lechon for its own activities, among these were team-building, year-end assessments and Christmas parties of various departments, including the police force; tree-planting; oathtaking of newly elected officials; basketball court blessing; and groundbreaking and opening of road projects.
The COA said Aljew had already instructed offices at the municipal hall to stop granting any request for lechon in any activity or gathering.