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MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday both chambers of Congress have agreed with the ruling of the Commission on Audit (COA) to stop using mere certifications as liquidating instruments for any of its expenditures.
“(We) agreed to submit ourselves to the disposition of COA, whatever COA says we will follow. And COA explicitly expressed that liquidation by certification will no longer be allowed, at least prospectively, starting 2013,” Lacson said in an interview.
Lacson said he and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte sat down with COA chairman Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan on the issue of liquidation of all funds appropriated to Congress, and they all agreed to rescind Concurrent Resolution No. 10 allowing Congress to liquidate Maintenance and
Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) by mere certification.
“It goes without saying that COA no longer recognizes liquidation by certification. It goes without saying Concurrent Resolution No. 10 is no longer in force,” Lacson said.
Lacson said he supported the contention of COA that under the Constitution, all branches of government should liquidate funds under rules on auditing and accounting procedures.
Lastly, Lacson said that COA rejected the proposal made by Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano in a resolution for a parallel audit of the Senate by a private auditing firm.
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