PCOO denies inaction vs erring execs on Asean fund misuse 

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during the opening ceremony of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit in Manila on April 29, 2017. / AFP FILE PHOTO / POOL / MARK R. CRISTINO

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) denied Tuesday the Commission on Audit (COA) 2018 report, which revealed that communications officials are yet to be charged over the anomalous disbursement of P38.8 million from the government’s budget for hosting the 2017 Asean Summit.

“To the contrary, the PCOO has issued a formal charge against the erring PCOO officer for gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service on 24 September 2018,” Marvin Gatpayat, PCOO Chief of staff and undersecretary for legal affairs said in a statement.

Gatpayat said the administrative case against the erring PCOO official “is now being heard before the Adjudication Committee of the PCOO.”

“Further, on 08 November 2018, the PCOO submitted its Fact Finding Report on several former PCOO officials to the Office of the Ombudsman for its consideration and appropriate action,” he said.

To properly update COA and clarify the issue, Gatpayat added “the PCOO submitted its Agency Action Plan and Status Implementation for 2017 Audit Observation Memorandum containing the latest updates on the actions taken based on COA’s recommendation [on] 23 June 2109.”

“The PCOO will never tolerate any irregular actions of its officers and employees. The PCOO is one with the Commission on Audit in ensuring that government funds are properly utilized,” the official said. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)