The provincial government of Sorsogon said its past and present local executives have already complied with the audit observation memoranda (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2021, in connection with projects carried out during the period.
This means that the complaint filed recently against Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who once served as governor, and the province’s present and former officials with the Office of the Ombudsman, lacked merit and basis, and at best, a product of politicking and harassment, per a statement, signed by acting Provincial Accountant Sheena Gacosta Credo, Provincial Internal Audit officer, Atty. Cesar Balmaceda, and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Ron Ely Espinosa Nov. 24.
The Capitol said the allegations against present and former local officials, including members of the Bids and Awards Committee, failed to verify if the AOM had already been complied with in accordance with the recommendations of the COA.
“These COA reports are from the different AOA issued to the officials of the province of Sorsogon. However, the complainant has not verified if the concerned personnel had satisfactorily complied with the recommendations of the COA with respect to AOMs as reported in COA reports for 2021,” the provincial government said.
“Following the reply, explanations, and actions of respondents to the AOMs issued, the COA had not issued any suspension or disallowance to said allegations complained of by (Atty. Marvin) Aceron because the reply, explanations, and actions of the respondents complied with the COA’s recommendations, as per COA Report 2022,” the Sorsogon officials said. ||
