Bamban under Alice Guo late in submitting cash advance vouchers – COA

INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has reported delays in the submission of cash advance vouchers of P2.62 million in confidential funds for the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac in 2023, which at that time was led by then-Mayor Alice Guo.

In an audit report released this month, state auditors disclosed that the municipal government failed to submit the vouchers within the deadline imposed by a joint circular (JC) of the COA and three other government agencies.

The cash advance voucher with a transmittal letter and other supporting documents should be submitted within seven days to the commission for post-audit.

This is required under Joint Circular No. 2015-01 dated January 8, 2015, which was issued by COA, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations, and the Department of National Defense.

However, the report showed that the vouchers for cash advances in 2023 — which were granted in the last three quarters of the same year — were submitted either a month or three months late.

Photo from the COA audit report on the confidential funds for the municipal government of Bamban, Tarlac

The commission explained that the CF “constitutes a lump-sum allocation within the local government unit’s appropriation ordinances to cover confidential expenses linked to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies,” the report reads.

“These resources are intended to bolster the agency’s mandate or operations,” it adds.

After observing the delays, the COA recommended the special disbursing officer and municipal accountant that they “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.”

In response, the Bamban government explained that the delays in the submission of the cash advance vouchers or DVs for the confidential funds was due to “miscommunication in the accounting office.”

“Nevertheless, the Management assured adherence to the recommendation and the stated guidelines,” the report says.

The municipal government of Bamban is currently headed by acting Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, who was the vice mayor.

He replaced Guo, who served as the municipality’s mayor from June 2022 to August 2024.

Alice Guo at the Senate of the Philippines on October 8, 2024. —File photo by Noy Morcoso | INQUIRER.net

Dismissed Gayor Guo was in hot water earlier this year due to allegations linking her to a Philippine offshore gaming operators hub in Bamban.

Guo is also facing complaints for graft, qualified human trafficking, money laundering, and tax evasion and is likewise being investigated by Congress over her alleged links to Philippine offshore gaming operators. She is currently detained in Pasig City Jail.