COA clears Dodot Jaworski, 2 Pasig officials over P45M appliance purchase

MANILA, Philippines – State auditors have cleared former Philippine Basketball Association player and now Pasig Vice Mayor Robert Vincent Jude “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. and two other city officials in connection with a more than P45-million appliance purchase in 2022.

The Commission on Audit (COA) en banc lifted an earlier notice of disallowance in an eight-page ruling dated February 3 and made public on Tuesday, April 14, after accepting the explanation of the Pasig officials.

Records showed the Pasig city government held a public bidding in 2022 for the supply and delivery of appliances under its Alay Pasasalamat Project.

The Pasig City hall later paid the supplier more than P45.053 million, net of tax, on May 22, 2023.

State auditors earlier flagged the transaction in an Audit Observation Memorandum dated August 9, 2023. They noted amendments in the purchase orders and the absence of signatures from either Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto or the city administrator.

Instead, the documents were signed by Assistant City Administrator Diego Luis Santiago.

City Accountant Juvy Cuenco and City Administrator Jeronimo Manzanero told the audit team that Santiago had authority from the Office of the Mayor to sign internal and external correspondence for the Office of the City Administrator.

Despite the explanation, auditors issued a notice of disallowance on December 20, 2023, naming Jaworski, Santiago and Cuenco as the officials liable.

Sotto subsequently confirmed that Santiago had the authority to sign the procurement documents had been questioned by auditors in a clarificatory memorandum issued on June 4, 2024. He also said the city accountant acted in good faith and that the transaction had been completed and supported by the required documents.

In clearing the officials, the COA cited the Government Procurement Policy Board’s Non-Policy Matter No. 049-2017, which provides that the head of a procuring entity, in this case Sotto, may delegate the authority to issue a notice to proceed to a duly authorized representative.

“The decision to delegate solely depends on the sound discretion of the [head of a procuring entity] taking into consideration the aspects of economy, efficiency and accountability, and the need to effectively implement the plans and programs of the procuring entity,” read part of the COA en banc decision.

COA said Sotto’s memorandum provided the basis for the city government’s position that Santiago was authorized to sign procurement-related documents, leading the commission to lift the notice of disallowance. – Rappler.com