P27-M disallowance vs PhilSOC upheld

The Commission on Audit has upheld the validity of a Notice of Disallowance (ND) covering a P27.22-million fund transferred by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PhilSOC) in preparation for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

- ELIZABETH MARCELO

In an eight-page decision, the COA denied the petition for review with prayer for relief from judgment and exclusion from liability filed by former PhilSOC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and three other former PhilSOC officials, namely secretarygeneral Stephen Hontiveros, deputy secretary-general Jose Capistrano Jr. and treasurer Ernesto Ortiz Luis.

The state auditors issued the ND on Nov. 11, 2015 after finding out that PhilSOC’s expenditures amounting to P27.224 million included transactions without the required approval of PhilSOC officials, while others had no supporting receipts or documents.