COA flags Coast Guard commander’s irregular P800K cash advances

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged alleged irregularities in the liquidation of P800,000 in cash advances by a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commander whom President Rodrigo Duterte promoted recently.

The COA also noted that 96.6 percent of the cash advances by the PCG’s officials and employees had remained outstanding as of the end of 2017.

The PCG has not commented on the COA findings.

In its 2017 annual audit report, the COA said 11 suppliers had disowned the 100 official receipts and invoices used by Rear Adm. Leopoldo Laroya to liquidate P818,531.50 in cash advances in April 2017.

Laroya, head of the PCG Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command whose rank was upgraded by the President in January, was formerly the commander of the Coast Guard District National Capital Region-Central Luzon.

Spurious receipts

The COA said Laroya presented receipts that were incorrect, fraudulent, marred by discrepancies, had unfamiliar handwriting or were issued for items not sold by the supplier.

The spurious receipts were supposedly issued by Nene’s Gravel and Sand, Marieca General Merchandise, Orignamura Trading, Lyd Glassware, Q.K.P. Hardware Inc., R.M. Lazaro Store, Tilpop General Merchandise, Pamco Stationary Supply Inc., Murakits General Merchandise, Elek Hardware, and Millionaire Enterprise.

The COA called on the PCG management to conduct its own investigation and institute administrative and legal action against the persons “responsible/liable for the irregular transaction.”

It also said the accounting service office should be directed to ensure that “false/spurious or disowned official receipts/sales invoices are no longer used” in the liquidation of cash advances.

The findings against Laroya came as the COA reported that P24.36 million, or 96.6 percent of the P25.23-million total cash advances, had yet to be backed up with adequate liquidation documents as of Dec. 31.