REGIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Rosal Couple And Other Officials Ordered By COA To Return P60 Million To Government
Photo credit: Noel E. Rosal
The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed former Albay Governor Noel Rosal, his wife, Legazpi City Mayor Carmen Geraldine Rosal, and several other officials and employees of Legazpi City to return over P60 million to the government.
This order comes after it was discovered that they distributed funds during the 2022 election period, despite an ongoing election ban.
According to a unanimous en banc decision by the COA, dated July 31, 2024, the agency upheld the notice of disallowance issued against the distribution of P26 million in financial assistance to tricycle drivers during the 2022 election campaign.
This decision led to the disqualification of Noel Rosal as Albay governor and similarly disqualified his wife, Carmen Geraldine Rosal, who was then running for mayor of Legazpi City to succeed him. Their appeal is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
The COA's decision stemmed from an automatic review of the notice of disallowance issued by its regional office, which had initially nullified the distribution of P26.6 million in financial aid to 2,500 tricycle drivers and 23,302 indigent senior citizens during the election period.
The aid distribution occurred between March and April 2022, just before the elections, while Noel Rosal was campaigning for the governorship of Albay.
In a separate decision, also dated July 31, 2024, the COA reinforced the prohibition on the Employee Welfare Assistance (EWA) provided to Legazpi City officials and employees under the city’s 2022 budget.
The COA upheld its regional office's May 2022 ruling that had disallowed the city's distribution of Economic Welfare Assistance (EWA) and additional incentives worth P30,000 to each city official and employee. The total disallowed amount, which adds up to P38.1 million, came from the city's 2022 budget.
Back in February 2023, the ordinance authorizing these benefits was nullified by the provincial government of Albay, which cited that the city government lacked the authority to grant such benefits under the Salary Standardization Law. The Legazpi City government contested this decision.
The COA has now ordered the return of the disallowed benefits to the public treasury.
This situation recalls the financial aid distributed to senior citizens and tricycle drivers just before the 2022 elections, which became a pivotal issue in Noel Rosal's disqualification case. The COA noted that the Commission on Elections' decision to disqualify Gov. Rosal for violating the Omnibus Election Code was indeed "correct."
Former Governor Rosal was disqualified by the Comelec for releasing public funds within 45 days of the campaign period, a clear violation of the election code.
This order comes after it was discovered that they distributed funds during the 2022 election period, despite an ongoing election ban.
According to a unanimous en banc decision by the COA, dated July 31, 2024, the agency upheld the notice of disallowance issued against the distribution of P26 million in financial assistance to tricycle drivers during the 2022 election campaign.
This decision led to the disqualification of Noel Rosal as Albay governor and similarly disqualified his wife, Carmen Geraldine Rosal, who was then running for mayor of Legazpi City to succeed him. Their appeal is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
The COA's decision stemmed from an automatic review of the notice of disallowance issued by its regional office, which had initially nullified the distribution of P26.6 million in financial aid to 2,500 tricycle drivers and 23,302 indigent senior citizens during the election period.
The aid distribution occurred between March and April 2022, just before the elections, while Noel Rosal was campaigning for the governorship of Albay.
In a separate decision, also dated July 31, 2024, the COA reinforced the prohibition on the Employee Welfare Assistance (EWA) provided to Legazpi City officials and employees under the city’s 2022 budget.
The COA upheld its regional office's May 2022 ruling that had disallowed the city's distribution of Economic Welfare Assistance (EWA) and additional incentives worth P30,000 to each city official and employee. The total disallowed amount, which adds up to P38.1 million, came from the city's 2022 budget.
Back in February 2023, the ordinance authorizing these benefits was nullified by the provincial government of Albay, which cited that the city government lacked the authority to grant such benefits under the Salary Standardization Law. The Legazpi City government contested this decision.
The COA has now ordered the return of the disallowed benefits to the public treasury.
This situation recalls the financial aid distributed to senior citizens and tricycle drivers just before the 2022 elections, which became a pivotal issue in Noel Rosal's disqualification case. The COA noted that the Commission on Elections' decision to disqualify Gov. Rosal for violating the Omnibus Election Code was indeed "correct."
Former Governor Rosal was disqualified by the Comelec for releasing public funds within 45 days of the campaign period, a clear violation of the election code.
Aug 10, 2024
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