By Jay Valleser
I AM tempted to equate the task of Commission on Audit (COA) with the National Bureau of Investigation’s. The NBI must have the patience and creativity in investigating crimes; the COA must have the same in looking after mishandling of government resources. The issue of P193 million in unliquidated cash advances at the capitol, some made during the administration of Gov. Oca Moreno, is a legitimate issue of mishandling government funds. This is a legitimate issue because it is made credible by the COA itself. This may or may not cost the governor his ambition to become mayor as it is still possible and probable for him to liquidate that much dough before election day.
This time, the governor is haunted by another audit. The COA is presently conducting an audit on personnel of the province. There is strong suspicion that the payroll of Misamis Oriental is heavily laden with personnel who are not in their job. The same are also suspected of being appointed to boost the rank of field workers working for the candidacy of Misamis Oriental officials. Worst, Gov. Oca is suspected of appointing people not from the province or other towns outside the province but from Cagayan de Oro city.
Many of them are casual and job-order personnel. They are motivated to work for Team Oca with the promise that they will be appointed to city hall positions if they make Oca win as mayor. They were not born as residents of the province nor are they registered as voters of the province. I know some who are voters of the city on JO appointment with the province. Of course, this is not new nor is it being done only by him. The matter of having casual and JO personnel as foot soldiers of candidates is a “standard” practice of politicians from way back. But this does not mean this is right simply because everybody is doing it.
I have heard that casual personnel of the province are charged for funding to respective offices where they are supposedly assigned to perform specific functions while JOs are charged to projects. The appointing authority is supposed to certify that the roles of these casuals and JOs in their offices are “vital” and that the function of the provincial government will belly up without these casuals and JOs. The regular provincial employees say these casuals and JOs are among the many factors why they do not get the upgraded salaries of their ranks and positions, why they are never paid on time like city hall employees and why their GSIS, PagIbig and PhilHealth are not remitted on time.
Now, the regular employees of Misamis Oriental also look at these casuals and JO as the sources of their discomfort for being extra baggage. The COA is stepping in. It is conducting a personnel audit. COA is asking all casuals and JOs to undergo an interview. In order for these employees to be interviewed, they must present their birth certificates. COA is also conducting surprise office visits to determine the presence of these casuals in offices where they are supposed to be.
Promoting one’s candidacy through radio, TV and the print media is good. However, direct and interpersonal communicators to carry the candidate’s message across have distinct benefits and advantages. This is why I bow to the brilliance of Gov. Oca in utilizing government-paid campaigners of the province as his foot soldiers in the city, if indeed the COA is correct in its assumptions. Political workers are a drain on the budget of any politician. This is big savings on the part of Gov. Oca and at the same time saving himself of any responsibility should these casuals and JOs don’t get reappointed to the payroll of the province.
Is COA doing this just to be a pain in the ass of Gov. Oca? I do not think so. This COA activity can work both ways. This can also be a boost to the candidacy of Moreno should the COA declare that everything is above board because the casuals and JOs are in their offices and not working as foot soldiers of Team Oca. This will make Gov. Oca look clean.
City hall, meanwhile, is not on personnel audit. Without that COA certification, Mayor Dongkoy Emano will remain a suspect of having city personnel work for partisan activities. Team Oca is declared clean while Team Dongkoy will stay suspect!
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