COA Affirms Disallowance of Caloocan's P198-M Confidential Expenses

The Commission on Audit (COA) has "affirmed with finality" the disallowance of P198 million in confidential and intelligence expenses of the Caloocan City government from 2008 to 2013 when Enrico Echiverri was mayor.

- — Elizabeth Marcelo

In a decision promulgated on March 25 but uploaded on the COA website only on Aug. 19, the COA Commission Proper denied the motion for reconsideration filed by former Caloocan City treasurer Evelina Garma.

Garma sought the reversal of a July 27, 2023 ruling, which affirmed the validity of six notices of disallowance (NDs) issued by the COA intelligence and confidential fund audit unit (ICFAU) in 2015.

The Commission Proper said Garma failed to raise any new meritorious argument in her appeal, other than those already raised in her joint petition for review with Echiverri and other Caloocan City officials.

"The arguments... are mere rehash of those already raised in the petition for review. These have already been judiciously passed upon and comprehensively discussed in the COA decision sought to be reconsidered, thus, there is no point discussing again," the commission said.