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Dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo attends the hearing called by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file

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COA cites Bamban municipal govt. for delayed submission of confidential funds documentation

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Commission on Audit (COA) cited the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac under then Mayor Alice Guo for delayed submission of cash advance vouchers for its confidential fund use in 2023.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/2/alice-guo-s-arraignment-over-election-offense-set-on-dec-5-in-tarlac-1759">Alice Guo&#x27;s arraignment over election offense set on Dec. 5 in Tarlac</a></div><p>In its annual audit report, the COA said these documents are required to &quot;substantiate&quot; confidential cash advances for 2023 worth P2.6 million.</p><p>State auditors noted that under a 2015 joint circular, cash advance vouchers with a transmittal letter and supporting documents should be submitted for audit within 7 days after the release of check.</p><p>Based on the COA report, three checks were issued for the confidential funds granted on April 26, July 26 and November 15 in 2023. Each check was worth P875,000.</p><p>The Bamban municipal government submitted the cash advance vouchers with transmittal letter beyond the due dates by 13 to 64 days:   </p><p>- 2nd quarter cash advance (July 6,2023)   </p><p>- 3rd quarter cash advance (August 15,2023)   </p><p>- 4th quarter cash advance (January 3,2024)</p><p>There was no CF cash advance reported in the first quarter of 2023.</p><p>The confidential fund for local governments covers expenses linked to surveillance activities intended to bolster the agency&#x27;s mandate or operations. </p><p>State auditors underscored the importance of following the guidelines for confidential funds due to its nature.</p><p>&quot;This matter is intrinsically confidential and classified, necessitating strong internal control over the release and utilization of the funds and strict accounting and auditing rules to prevent mishandling or improper application of funds,&quot; the report stated.</p><p>COA urged the head of agency or special disbursing officer (SDO) and the municipal accountant to assure submission of the disbursement vouchers for the cash advances within the deadline. </p><p>&quot;The delays in submission of DVs for the CA-Confidential Fund were due to miscommunication in the Accounting Office. Nevertheless, the Management assured adherence to the recommendation and the stated guidelines,&quot; the Bamban municipal government said in response.</p><p>State auditors also found that the Bamban government only implemented 15 out of the 33 audit recommendations from the 2022 annual audit report.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/12/11/alice-guo-stressed-about-spending-holiday-in-jail-as-camp-defends-bail-petition-1659">Alice Guo &#x27;stressed&#x27; about spending holiday in jail as camp defends bail petition</a></div><div><strong>POGO RAID IN BAMBAN, TARLAC</strong></div><p>The municipality of Bamban was put into the spotlight earlier this year after police raided an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub after the escape of a Vietnamese worker who contacted police.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/10/raided-bamban-porac-pogos-may-be-used-as-schools-paocc-1545" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Raided Bamban, Porac POGOs may be used as schools: PAOCC</a></div><p>Officials found hundreds of individuals of various nationalities, who were allegedly forced to run scams and were later deported.</p><p>Lawmakers questioned Guo and other local officials why they did not know about the trafficking and illegal operations happening in the massive POGO complex that sits just behind the Bamban municipal hall.</p><p>The Bamban POGO raid and revelations in government investigations later led to Guo&#x27;s dismissal as mayor.</p><p>Guo faces cases for qualified human trafficking, money laundering, tax evasion, material misrepresentation, among others.</p><p>The former mayor has repeatedly denied the allegations against her.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1n-69b0mS30?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LUbKnwVSSI8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Commission on Audit (COA) cited the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac, under then Mayor Alice Guo, for delayed submission of cash advance vouchers for its confidential fund use in 2023.</p>

The Commission on Audit (COA) cited the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac, under then Mayor Alice Guo, for delayed submission of cash advance vouchers for its confidential fund use in 2023.

COA flags Bamban gov't for late confidential fund documents

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COA flags Bamban gov't for late confidential fund documents

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 12, 2024 04:49 PM PHT

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