COA flags Libacao brgy. capt., treasurer for P8.12-M expenses

The Commission on Audit has flagged the Barangay Captain and Treasurer of Libacao in Himamaylan City for their more than P8.12 million financial transactions with no disbursement vouchers.

In 12 separate Notices of Suspension (NS), all dated February 15, 2023 it issued to Libacao Punong Barangay Antonio M. Limsiaco and Brgy. Treasurer Ray B. Taladua, COA said that they found out the absence of disbursement vouchers for transactions of the barangay in the months of January to December, 2022.

“We have examined the accounts of Barangay Libacao, City of Himamaylan for CY 2022 and noted that disbursement vouchers (for the months of January to December) 2022 were not submitted to the Office of the Auditor for review,” the auditors stated in COA NS Nos. 2023-002-101 to 013-101 (2022), all dated Feb. 15, 2023.

The 12 notices enumerated details of the transactions from January, 2022 to December, 2022 without disbursement vouchers, based on Land Bank of the Philippines checks issued by the barangay, with a total amount of more than P8.12 million.

“The (total amount) was suspended in audit due to non-submission of disbursement vouchers for the (year 2022), contrary to COA Circular No. 2019-001 dated January 30, 2019 which provides the guidelines in Providing Control Mechanism to Enforce Submission of Barangay Financial Transactions,” State Auditors III Ma. Ellaine P. Fajardo, OIC-Audit Team Leader, and Joseph Francis T. Santes, In-Charge of Office, COA Regional Satellite Audit Office for Negros Island & Siquijor, stated in the NS.

Both Libacao Brgy. Captain Limsiaco and Treasurer Taladua were directed to settle the audit suspension. “Items suspended in audit which are not settled within 90 days shall become a disallowance pursuant to Section 82 of Presidential Decree No. 1445,” the auditors noted.

Total amount of transactions without disbursement vouchers for each month were enumerated in the notices:

For the month of January – P575,768.00; February – P532,926.41; March – P811,185.41; April – P620,225.82;

May – P796,114.82; June – P764,075.82; July – P658,645.73; August – P951,425.00;
September – P600,809.00; October – P597,399.00; November – P590,568.00; and December – P629,119.00.

In the notices, auditors noted that Brgy. Captain Limsiaco has certified as to the validity, propriety, and legality of the transactions, and Treas. Taladua certified as to the availability of funds.

A Notice of Suspension is issued pending compliance with various requirements for transactions which may result in pecuniary loss to the government.*