Photo: Alice Guo. File photo

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit has flagged the local government of Bamban, Tarlac for its late submission of cash advance vouchers in 2023 amounting to P2.6 million in confidential funds during the time of its deposed Mayor Alice Guo. 

In its annual audit report released this month, COA said the municipal government failed to submit the documents within a given post check release deadline as mandated by a 2015 joint circular.

Under the joint circular, cash advance vouchers with a transmittal letter and other supporting documents should be submitted within seven days to the state auditor for post-audit. 

The report showed that the checks in three tranches were granted in April, July and November of 2023 but vouchers were submitted late by at least a month to three months. No cash advance was reported in the first quarter of 2023. 

Screen grab from COA report

The confidential funds for local government covers expenses related to surveillance activities intended to aid its mandate or operations. 

“This matter is intrinsically confidential and classified, necessitating strong internal control over the release and utilization of the funds and strict accounting and auditing rules to prevent mishandling or improper application of funds,” the report stated.

The COA then recommended to the Special Disbursing Officer and municipal accountant to “assure the submission of disbursement vouchers for the CA for confidential activities/projects with complete required supporting documents within seven (7) working days from the release of the check.”

Bamban town was put to the map earlier this year when Guo was submitted to congressional scrutiny over her  alleged involvement in POGO operations. She was also accused of being a Chinese spy. 

Her identity also became a hot topic when it was discovered that she and Chinese national Guo Hua Ping were one and the same as proven by a matching fingerprint analysis done by the National Bureau of Investigation. 

Last July, Sen. Risa Hontiveros made a manifestation that Guo had already left the country for Malaysia. She was eventually intercepted by Indonesian police in Tangerang City. and brought back to the country to serve her contempt order. 

She has been removed from office and is facing complaints for graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion. 

Bamban is currently headed by acting Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, who was then the town’s Vice Mayor.