The provincial government of Sorsogon has issued a statement stating that its past and present local executives have already complied with the audit observation memorandum (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit in 2021 regarding projects carried out during the period.
According to the provincial government, the allegations against present and former local officials, including members of the Bids Awards Committee, failed to verify whether the AOM had already been complied with.
“These COA reports are from the different Audit Observation Memoranda 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 Sorsogon LGU executives said.
“Following the reply, explanations, and actions of respondents to the AOMs issued, the COA had not issued any suspension or disallowance to the said allegations,” they added.
The statement was signed by acting Provincial Accountant Sheena Gacosta Credo, Provincial Internal Audit Officer Cesar Balmaceda, and Provincial Legal Officer Ron Ely Espinosa.
It was issued amid the recent filing of a complaint against Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero over alleged misuse of public funds while serving as provincial governor.
Lawyer Eldrige Aceron filed graft and other criminal complaints against Escudero and several provincial officials before the Office of the Ombudsman, noting the alleged irregularities flagged in COA’s 2021 report.
