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Thursday, July 17, 2003
Coop chief blames Capitol for funds loss
By Edwin G. Espejo
GENERAL SANTOS -- Up to P46 million in government funds may have been lost in an anomaly that has rocked the Sarangani Provincial Government.
Early this week, another cooperative in Malapatan, Sarangani denied having received P250,000 from Capitol officials.
Instead, Lon Padidu Agro-Industrial Cooperative chairman Joel Bolante identified Capitol employees Mary Ann Gadian and Joy Tangan as the ones who pocketed the proceeds of a check he cashed last year at the Land Bank of the Philippines chapter in Alabel.
"Wala gyud ko nakakita sa kwarta human nga akong gi-endorse sa likod ang tseke kay sila naman ang migunit," said Bolante. (I never saw the money because after I endorsed the check they took it from me.)
Bolante said the two loaned the amount from him and promised to pay him this year.
The two, however, never paid him the amount. He said he already received a notice from the Commission on Audit (COA) to liquidate the grant that he received from the Provincial Government.
Also on Wednesday, the treasurer of Kanalo Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Maasim denied receiving two checks worth P750,000 purportedly given as grant to their cooperative.
An initial post-audit COA report signed by Helen Cailing cited several irregularities in the releases of financial assistance to non-government and people's organizations in Sarangani.
Cailing could no be reached to verify the report.
Her staff told Sun.Star the COA auditor is on official business.
The report, dated January 15 this year, said the disbursements of Capitol funds were mired by lack of documents and officials receipts.
Officers and members of cooperatives reportedly given financial assistance by the Provincial Government are either Capitol and municipal employees or their relatives.
The report further claimed no liquidations were made on the fund that was released to the cooperatives.
In addition, someone other than the intended beneficiary had the checks cashed.
Some of the cooperatives that were issued checks were also not listed with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
Among those questioned by COA was the P500,000 grant given to Hakbang Development Cooperative in Glan reportedly for a piggery project given in February last year.
The report said four capitol employees are members of the cooperative.
They were identified as Edgar Galvez, Joseph Dijan, Jimmy Langomez and Dominic Alzate.
COA also questioned the P676,481 worth of releases to the Binuyugan Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Maasim.
The chairman of the cooperative is Edwin Cabanting, a legislative staff officer of Sarangani.
Some of the members were identified as Orlanda Purisima, Kenneth Purisima, Orlan Purisima, Rebbecca Escobar and Noel Baza.
Escobar is the sister-in-law of Sarangani Gov. Miguel Escobar.
Another member is Mariano Idlao, barangay chairman of Salakit in nearby Kiamba town.
COA said in an audit report submitted to Governor Escobar, a total of P2,729,931 were released last year to 11 cooperatives and non-government organizations.
In all these, it appeared that there were no reports and actual monitoring of the projects funded by the money.
The initial COA report, however, did not include releases in the previous years including this year.
Meanwhile, Escobar said he already made several memoranda to Capitol employees after receiving the final COA audit report late last month.
Asked if he has suspended the release of financial aids to cooperatives in the province, the governor said no.
Instead, he said he has ordered department heads at the Capitol to strictly monitor and evaluate all approved projects in the province.
Escobar has strongly denied any involvement in the fund mess.
He ordered his legal officer to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged anomaly after Bing Constantino-Zoleta and two employees in the Office of the Vice Governor were implicated in the scam.
Zoleta is the daughter of Sarangani vice governor Felipe Constantino. Sun.Star General Santos
(July 17, 2003 issue)
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