PCOO vows probe into COA report on ASEAN expenses

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar. (PCOO photo)

MANILA – The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Friday assured that it will address the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings on the alleged procurement irregularities in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) events in 2017.

PCOO Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Marvin Gatpayat said at least five individuals including two PCOO deputy officials are now being investigated for possible violation of procurement laws.

“It’s under investigation. Let’s just say more or less around five,” Gatpayat told the media in an interview.

While the communications official refused to name names, he said the two PCOO officials have been designated to handle the ASEAN Committee on Media Affairs and Strategic Communications (CMASC) which was assigned to PCOO.

“It’s under investigation. To avoid any trial by publicity, we will just announce their names at the proper time,” said Gatpayat, who is also the chief of staff of PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.

According to COA reports, the PCOO had awarded contracts to suppliers with over-the-budget quotations and split purchases for giveaways and vans which is a violation of the procurement law.

In a statement, the PCOO said investigation has started as early as April or a month after the PCOO received the Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) “on the aforementioned procurement irregularities”.

“As ordered by the Secretary, the PCOO Legal Department is conducting an investigation on the matter. Show cause memorandums have been issued and an investigation report is forthcoming,” Gatpayat read from the statement.

As early as January this year, Gatpayat said the PCOO received reports that there might have been “some indiscretions” in the conduct of procurement in the ASEAN event.

Gatpayat said an office order has been issued reconstituting the PCOO-Bids and Awards Committee and PCOO-BAC II, “effectively replacing their respective chairpersons”.

“To strengthen our procurement process, and to comply with the observations of the COA, we also created an interim procurement service unit (PSU),” Gatpayat said.

He said the PSU is already performing support functions in relation to the preparation of supporting documents and to ensure strict compliance with the Government Procurement Reform Act.

“In view of the foregoing, the public can rest assured that this Office will undertake all needed actions and reforms to uphold the integrity of the PCOO,” he said.

Gatpayat added that COA has the option to ask the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the matter.

“But definitely, we will conduct our investigation and penalize people who violated any government law,” he said.