Thursday, August 28, 2008 Seares: Who’s afraid of COA? By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
THE Commission on Audit (COA) seems to frighten bureaucrats who'd rather have its annual audit sealed, never to see public light.
Actually though, COA just checks whether spending of government money follows the law and the rules. COA has no power to shut down a graft-ridden office or punish a corrupt official.
COA makes warnings that aren't always followed. Its disallowances hardly result in refund of misspent public money. Not many crooks who violated COA rules were prosecuted and jailed.
COA is a tiger that growls but flashes puny teeth.
It can't compel return of unliquidated cash advances. Often, regulators sit on the ruling until the offender will have quit or fled.
It can't enforce sanction. It can only recommend to the ombudsman's office, which takes a lot more time than regular prosecutors in taking the case to court.
Vital cog
That doesn't make COA irrelevant. Its findings are often the basis for suing and going to trial.
It's a vital cog but like most parts in the anti-corruption machine, it relies upon other parts to be truly useful.
COA strikes fear mostly in hearts of politicians to whom public image and its impact on votes are crucial. This is COA's strength: In publicizing findings of irregularities, it helps curb waste and abuse.
When officials rush over one another to answer and explain, accountability is partly met.
COA sometimes errs and its procedures falter. Even to honest officials, it can be arbitrary and high-handed.
Infallible it is not, but what greater mess the Government would have if there were no COA prying into the use of public funds.
