Esperon, 4 other Duterte officials improperly spent P1.96M for ASEAN 2017

COA. The Commission on Audit in Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

Rappler

Auditors earlier found that part of the funds meant for security and emergency preparedness and response went instead to the purchase of two vehicles, worth P980,000 each, reportedly used to transport personnel during ASEAN-related activities

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) junked the petition of former national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and four National Security Council (NSC) officials that sought to recall a 2020 notice of disallowance involving improper spending of funds meant for the country’s hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017.

In March 2017, the Duterte-era Department of the Interior and Local Government then transferred P6.85 million to the NSC for the Philippines’ chairmanship and hosting of the ASEAN, which also commemorated the regional bloc’s 50th anniversary.

However, an audit showed that part of the funds meant for security and emergency preparedness and response during ASEAN went instead to the purchase of two Isuzu Crosswind XT vehicles worth P980,000 each, totaling P1.96 million. The vehicles were reportedly used to transport personnel during ASEAN-related activities.

Without authority from the Office of the President, the purchase was considered irregular, and the commission issued the notice of disallowance in 2020.

But Esperon and NSC officials Vicente Agdamag, Ruperta Salvanera, Edwin Servigon, and Maria Purificacion Sison filed their petition challenging the notice of disallowance way beyond the allowed period of 180 days, which was 1,012 days after the notice was received.

Both the notice of finality of decision and the COA order of execution had since been issued in 2022.

“This Commission finds the present petition without merit as it was filed after the ND has already become final and executory. Moreover, the petitioners are cognizant of their failure to secure authorization from the OP,” the COA en banc said in its August 13 decision released recently.

“Rules of procedure must be faithfully complied with and should not be discarded by the mere expediency of claiming substantial merit,” state auditors said, citing the Supreme Court as having ruled that “the right to appeal is neither a natural right nor a component of due process.” – Rappler.com