State auditor slapped 6-month suspension

Ernesto Gregorio: Prejudicial conduct PHOTO FROM COA.GOV.PH

MANILA, Philippines—A state auditor has been meted a six-month suspension without pay for receiving allowances from the Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC), a government-owned corporation that he was assigned to audit.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, in a decision signed on Jan. 24, found Ernesto Gregorio, the HGC’s supervising auditor, guilty of “conduct grossly prejudicial to the best interest of the service” for violating Republic Act No. 6758, or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989, and Commission on Audit (COA) Memorandum No. 89-584.

The COA memorandum prohibits COA auditors and personnel from receiving benefits from any of the agencies they audit.

The records show that from Jan. 13, 2000, to Jan. 8, 2004, the HGC granted honoraria/allowances to its president, vice presidents, regional managers, department managers, assistant department managers, auditors and members of the board of directors, which were described as extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (EMEs) and were sourced from the Abot-Kaya Pabahay Fund (AKPF).