The Commission on Audit has directed former officials of Bacolod City to settle the disallowance of the payment of P890,432.12 for deliveries of furniture and fixtures for the Bacolod City Government Center during the previous administration for allegedly exceeding the contracted quantity.

The notice of disallowance dated March 14, said the amount of P890,432.12 was disallowed in audit because the city government included the payment in a number of delivered furniture and fixture that were in excess over the P48,059,696.81 contracted quantity per P.O. No. 1024-08 dated October 24, 2008.

The notice signed by State Auditor IV Lelanie Lory Bojo and State Auditor V Nilo Castigador, said the disbursement is in violation of No. 3 of COA Circular 2012-003 dated Oct, 29, 2012.

City Accountant Eduardo Ravena, former Mayor and now Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, acting MASO head Ricardo Dahildahil, property officer Neson Sedillo, former City Treasurer Annabelle Badajos and COMFAC Corp. representative Roderick Aguas were directed to settle immediately the disallowance.

Former City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan yesterday said there was no overpayment and it is just a matter of reconciling the records between the findings of the COA and the records at hand.

Bayatan said the important point is that each and every item paid for by the previous administration had actually been delivered.

This can be checked with the General Services Office and City Accountant, he said.

In all likelihood, if indeed, there were excess delivery, they can just return the items to the supplier, he said.

Meanwhile, Edward Causing, formerly of the City Legal Office, and now a Political Affairs Assistant of Congressman Leonardia, said that as far as they know, everything in the delivery of the items was in order, and also referred to the GSO and Accounting Office for the details regarding the deliveries and the payments.*CGS

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