Mabilog Slams Ex-Village Chief Over COA Disallowance Issue

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog dismissed as “fake news” a former barangay captain’s request for the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate the PHP40 million Commission on Audit (COA) disallowance flagged during his administration.

Mabilog refuted allegations of anomalies in the 2014 procurement of a PHP39.7 million landfill compactor, saying the equipment was properly received by Engr. Neil Ravena, now head of the city’s General Services Office (GSO).

“Let us not spread fake news and preserve the truth. The PHP40 million compactor had no anomalies—it was received by Engr. Neil Ravena himself,” Mabilog said in a Facebook post on Feb. 14, which he later edited on Feb. 16.

Without naming former Barangay Our Lady of Lourdes Captain Amado Hollero, Mabilog accused him of funding media reports to spread false information and deflected the issue, raising an alleged anomaly involving allowances for village guards.

“Haist, are you on panic mode? You have to pay the media to put out fake news. There was no money lost from the city. Cap, what did you do with the guards’ allowances again? Maybe you’re the one being complained about,” Mabilog added.

Hollero, who filed the request to the Ombudsman on Feb. 5, urged authorities to clarify the status of the transaction after COA issued a Notice of Disallowance (ND) that became final and executory on June 21, 2018.

“I seek the Ombudsman’s attention and assistance, knowing that the ND can only be settled either through payment (refund) or submission of the required documents,” Hollero stated in his letter.

He insisted that his letter was not politically motivated but was aimed at ensuring accountability.

“For me, it’s immaterial when it was filed. The real issue is accountability. PHP40 million is a huge amount to look into. If Jed will clear the clouds with this, then there would be no issue. But COA has already ruled on the disallowance,” Hollero told Daily Guardian via Messenger.

COA flagged the Iloilo City government multiple times from 2014 to 2021 regarding the landfill compactor.

The 2014 Annual Audit Report (AAR) first cited the transaction, stating that the equipment was purchased through a PHP39.7 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

The 2016 AAR noted that a Notice of Suspension was issued on April 15, 2016, requiring the city government to submit missing documentation. The city responded on July 11, 2016, but its submission was returned on Aug. 30, 2016, with COA insisting on original copies of complete documents.

On April 24, 2017, COA issued a Notice of Disallowance due to non-compliance, which was later appealed. However, the 2018 AAR confirmed that the COA regional office upheld the disallowance, making it final and executory.

The 2021 AAR still listed the compactor under “Reconciling Items for Adjustments and Remedies”, noting that complete documents had yet to be submitted by the City Treasurer to the Accounting Division.

COA recommended that the City Accountant coordinate with the City Treasurer’s Office to finalize the necessary documents for proper accounting adjustments.

Asked about Mabilog’s remarks, Hollero responded: “I am not the issue. It’s Jed Mabilog, and he needs to answer it.”

The COA Annual Audit Reports mentioned in this story were examined with the assistance of the COA Beat Assistant, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool, and were double-checked against the original reports.

This disclaimer is stated in accordance with Daily Guardian’s AI policy, which is available in its website.