P79M ARMM contracts under Ampatuan illegal, irregular – COA

MANILA, Philippines – The administration of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan misused up to P79.162 million ($1.761 million) worth of public funds, the Commission on Audit has ruled. 

The decision – dated Thursday, September – affirms a 2013 decision of its Special Audit Office (SAO) that declared such funds as “illegal and irregular.”  

One of the findings of the SAO report showed that one cash advance made during Ampatuan’s term reached as high as P5.5 million when a COA circular only allows a limit of P15,000 ($333.85) in fund advances per transaction. 

Ampatuan and other former ARMM officials filed an appeal before COA following the SAO report but the COA Commission Proper ruled that they failed to raise any new argument that would merit the reversal of the original findings. 

The COA Commission Proper is composed of Chairperson Grace Pulido Tan, and Commissioners Heidi Mendoza and Jose Fabia. 

Aside from Ampatuan, COA found the following former officials liable: 

• Former ARMM supply division chief and special disbursing officer Adham Patadon
• Ampatuan’s chief-of-staff Ulama Acad
• Executive secretary Oscar Sampulna
• Financial and budget management services director Batolacongan Abdullah Financial Audit Analyst III Frederick C. Dedicatoria.

The 2013 SAO report found that the Ampatuan administration purchased “relief goods and office supplies” worth P79,162,435 from only one supplier identifed as Superama. 

The procurements were made by only one person – Patadon, who mostly paid for them in cash through fund advances. 

Superama denied supplying any products for the ARMM. Auditors also questioned the lack of public bidding for the purchases. 

“As borne by the records, (the notice of disallowance) was issued on the ground that the grant of the cash advances and utilization thereof were made without due regard to existing laws and regulations and are therefore considered illegal and irregular,” COA said.

The case has now been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation.

Ampatuan is one of the main accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, which killed 58 people, including 32 journalists.

Aside from Zaldy Ampatuan, two other Ampatuans are facing murder charges for the massacre: his father Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brother Andal Ampatuan Jr. – Rappler.com

$1 = 44.93