The failure of personnel to liquidate advances may result in the withholding of their salaries under COA Circular No. 97-002.

The Commission on Audit (CoA) has questioned the Office of Vice President (OVP) Leni Robredo for allegedly failing to liquidate the travel expenses of its personnel last year.

OVP personnel spent ₱P26.4 million on local trips and P953,550.75 for foreign trips but they failed to liquidate the same on time, said CoA in its 2017 report.

“Cash advances (CA) for local official travels were not liquidated within 30 days upon return to official station, while unused/excess cash advances were refunded even later than the submission of the Liquidation Reports,” read the CoA report.

The failure of personnel to liquidate advances may result in the withholding of their salaries under CoA Circular No. 97-002.

“Neglect of management to demand the immediate refund of unused/excess cash advances and the submission of liquidation reports within the period prescribed renders inaccuracies in the financial statements,” CoA said.

But the OVP said in a statement that all cash advances of its personnel have been fully liquidated. Still, the OVP in its reply was quiet on whether it liquidated within the time period prescribed by CoA.

“The OVP has instituted stricter measures to prevent similar delays. Full details of these steps taken by the OVP were communicated to CoA in a letter sent in March 2018,” said a statement from Undersecretary Boyet Dy.

The OVP letter, according to Dy, has clearer guidelines on the handling of cash advances, as well as the withholding of compensation of staffers subject to full liquidation. The mechanism stated in the letter was also consistent with CoA’s own recommendations, said Dy.