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House panel seeks Pampanga mayor’s SALN, more witnesses
THE House Committee on Public Accounts is poised to tighten the noose on Mayor Teddy Tumang of Mexico, Pampanga by asking copies of his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) in connection with its inquiry into alleged anomalous transactions worth P149 million entered into by the mayor.
The committee also decided to summon four more officials who can shed light on the questionable deals made in 2018 and prior years under Tumang’s watch as town mayor.
During Wednesday’s second hearing on the issue, panel chairman Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano of party-list group Abang Lingkod said he would write the Office of the Ombudsman to request for certified copies of Tumang’s SALNs.
Paduano made the statement after several committee members sought the documents to determine if the Mexico mayor was financially capable of reimbursing the town of P43 million out of the P89 million in transactions disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA) in 2018.
The amount originally disallowed by the COA and ordered returned to the town was P149 million. After appeals by Tumang and other town officials, the COA reduced it to P89 million.
The committee learned from the town’s treasurer that the mayor reimbursed his municipality of almost P43 million in cash in July, August and December 2018.
A certain Dr. Roberto Tugade, a supplier, returned more than P1 million.
The attendance of four more municipal officials in the next hearing was sought by Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel.
Summoned by the committee were former accountant Perlita Lagman, and Dr. Tugade and fellow suppliers Rizalito Dizon and Eduardo Santiago.
Tugade, Diazon and Santiago have had transactions with Tumang in the past, according to the COA.
Pimentel said inviting these individuals would “enlighten the panel on the veracity of the report”.
Tumang attended the Wednesday hearing after failing to show up in last week.
“One of the findings of the audit investigation, item number six, 164 disbursement vouchers totaling
P26,719,162.53 were processed and paid without the necessary approval by the municipal accountant in violation of Section 4 of PD (Presidential Decree) 1445 and Section 344 of the Local Government Code,” Pimentel said.
“In spite of the fact of the non-signature of the municipal accountant, the municipality of Mexico proceeded with the issuance of a check. This is a clear violation of accounting rules and regulations,” he said.
