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COA flags excess P10.774-M compensation paid to Calida, other OSG lawyers

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Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/02/27/calida-jose-022717.jpg"/><figcaption>Solicitor General Jose Calida. File Photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - The Commission on Audit has flagged the excess honoraria and allowances received by Solicitor General Jose Calida amounting to P7.46 million, contrary to a 1985 COA circular which supposedly prohibits him from receiving additional fees exceeding 50 percent of his annual basic salary.In its 2017 annual report, the COA said Calida’s annual salary is P1.827 million, which means he can only receive a maximum additional compensation of P913,950.But the COA noted a total of P8.376 million allowances which he either directly received or through the OSG’s Financial Management Service, thus an excess compensation amount of P7.462 million.The OSG is the “law firm” of the government, with lawyers representing government agencies in any litigation or matter requiring the services of a lawyer.“The receipt of honoraria is not without limitations. COA Circular 85-25-E dated April 25, 1985 was issued to clarify the payment of service and/or incentive fees, remuneration, honoraria and all other extra compensation paid to government officials and employees which shall not exceed 50 percent of annual salary,” the COA noted.The issue of overcompensation was also in the 2016 annual audit report of the COA with Calida receiving P1.123 million in excess and his predecessor, Florin Hilbay, receiving P4.662 million.The COA also noted the excess compensation received by 14 other OSG lawyers with a total amount of P3.312 million.The COA said OSG lawyers Henry Angeles, Herman Cimafranca, James Cundangan, Renan Ramos, Rex Pascual, Bernard Hernandez, Ma. Antonia Edita Dizon, Raymund Rigodon, Danilo Leyva, Lilian Abenojar, John Dale Ballinan, Perfecto Adelfo Chua Cheng, Leney Delfin-Layug and Gift Mohametano, like Calida, received allowances amounting to more than 50% of their annual salaries.Among the client agencies which gave allowances to OSG lawyers are the Development Bank of the Philippines which gave a total of P1.602 million; Occidental Mindoro State College, P148,500; Central Bank Board of Liquidators, P123,675; and the Department of National Defense, P480,000.As in the last audit report, the COA told the OSG to refund the excess amount received by OSG lawyers and deposit it to the OSG’s trust fund and limit the receipt of allowances to not more than 50% of their annual salary.But the OSG also reiterated the legality of their excess allowances based on Presidential Decree 478 (Defining the powers and functions of the Office of the Solicitor General) and Executive Order 297 (Instituting the Administrative Code of 1987) which “authorize OSG lawyers to receive allowances and honoraria for the legal services they render without qualification, in addition to their regular compensation.”<div>LOWER COMPENSATION</div>While the officials are receiving excess compensation, the COA also took note of 7 employees taking a net home pay lower than the mandated minimum amount of P4,000 due to payroll deductions from various loans.Six employees received a take home pay of more than P3,000 with one employee receiving only P1,008.“We recommend that management strictly enforce and implement the provisions stipulated in the General Appropriations Act on the minimum take home pay of employees,” the COA said.Aside from excess allowances, the COA also took note of excessive claims of OSG personnel on hotel accommodations and per diem for local and foreign travel.“The allowable travel expenses prescribed in Executive Order 298 were not strictly followed resulting in excessive claims for local and foreign travel allowances totaling P53,796 and P78,096, respectively, thus disallowed in audit,” the COA said.

The Commission on Audit has flagged the excess honoraria and allowances received by Solicitor General Jose Calida amounting to P7.46 million, contrary to a 1985 COA circular which supposedly prohibits him from receiving additional fees exceeding 50 percent of his annual basic salary.

The Commission on Audit has flagged the excess honoraria and allowances received by Solicitor General Jose Calida amounting to P7.46 million, contrary to a 1985 COA circular which supposedly prohibits him from receiving additional fees exceeding 50 percent of his annual basic salary.

COA flags excess P10.774-M compensation paid to Calida, other OSG lawyers

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COA flags excess P10.774-M compensation paid to Calida, other OSG lawyers

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 01, 2018 11:22 AM PHT

Read More:

COA

Commission on Audit

Jose Calida

Office of the Solicitor General

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