Romero waits COA reports on payroll scam's yarns

Mayor Romero (extreme right) joins public officials in a boodle fight 

MANGALDAN – “The problem is in the hands of the COA (Commission on Audit),” tersely declared by this town’s mayor in relation to the payroll padding brouhaha that spawned to the media recently.

Mayor Herminio Romero said that the employee at the treasurer office has been relieved already of her task to disburse funds as investigation by the COA progresses.

Mayor Romero said that COA investigates the offices of the treasury, accounting,and human resources for the alleged pay scandal that haunted this first class municipality.

“Kung ano and decision ng COA iyan ang masusunod! (The conclusion of the investigation by COA should be followed!). As much as possible ang kanilang (their) report that is partial or final would be the basis. Antayin ko kung mapa-aga nila, mas maganda (I will wait for the report, the early the better),” Romero stressed.

The mayor added that he could not be arbitrary in punishing those involved without basis.

“Saka we based our action sa report. Pag wala akong katibayan (if I don’t have basis) it would be very bad. I might be a judge acting without authority. At saka po iyong mga iba na reasons na may repercussion (Moreover, if they have any information of any anomalies that have repercussions) they can text me anonymously. Hindi naman masama iyan (It is not wrong). We will do what we can do to everyone. At saka sana iyong mga (to those) rank & file rest assured that there will be no cover-up,” he told a radio station in an interview recently.

 He added that his constituents can report too to any public officials here any activities they suspected to be anomalous.

He said one’s failure to do it would undermine the fiber of this town’s local governance.

“We should not aggravate the problems”.

Mrs. Evelyn Bernabe, chief of the accounting office, whose office was implicated by TV and radio reports said she would not comment to this paper as the investigation by the COA is in progress.

Mr.Fernando Cabrera, administrative officer here, denied recently at GMA-7  TV that this town lost P6 million in the payroll padding.

“Hindi pa tiyak ang halaga. Hindi pa malinaw na P6 million fund or something”.

He explained that the issue is already at the COA.

Cabrera assured the public that incase there was indeed shenanigans on this brouhaha, the no-nonsense mayor Romero would let the axe fall for those who were involved (Mortz C. Ortigoza)