COA probes alleged ‘ghost job-hires’ at Capitol

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

 

The Commission on Audit (COA) is investigating the status of casual workers at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo province following reports that a former job-hire continues to receive his salary even after resigning two years ago.

COA called on all Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers at the SP to report to their offices for interviews on June 24 to July 2, 2020.

The audit agency also requested for the payrolls of the JOs and COS workers.

The investigation was triggered by the claims of Remus Solas who used to work for the office of Liga ng mga Barangay President and ex-officio Board Member Dorothy Paes.

Solas claimed in a radio interview that someone was claiming his pay even if he has resigned way back in 2018.

He said that he surrendered his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card upon resigning but he later learned that it was still being used in 2020.

Solas discovered the matter after complaints were lodged against him questioning his qualification for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in his current residence in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

He denied signing daily time records, job order forms, and accomplishment reports from March 2 to 13, 2020.

The documents indicated that he accompanied Paes to events from 2018 to 2020, the most recent being the Liga ng mga Barangay Conference in Pasay City on March 3, 2020.

He said that he has been living in Silay City for more than a year and the last time he was in Iloilo was earlier this year.

Solas said he is willing to cooperate with any investigation that national and provincial government officials will pursue to clear his name.

Daily Guardian has reached out to Paes and Vice Governor Christine Garin for their reactions as of this writing but they have yet to respond.

 

COMPLIANCE

Several Board Members on Wednesday said they will be complying with COA’s request.

In an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, Board Member Matt Palabrica (3^rd) defended his JO and COS staff, saying he will come with them if his presence is required.

“If it’s needed, then I will come with them. They know their work, and all of them working in my office are doing well,” Palabrica said.

Board Members Rolly Distura (4^th), Carol V Espinosa-Diaz (5^th), and Ramon Sullano (Philippine Councilors League) said they are ready to cooperate with COA.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. told Daily Guardian that he will leave the investigation to the SP because it is a separate branch of the provincial government.

“Since the Sanggunian is a separate branch with its own budget and own human resources office, it would be more proper for them to conduct an investigation. If it would be proper for the executive to conduct the investigation, then maybe we will,” Defensor said.