Audit body: Bonus to dancing inmates illegal

CEBU CITY -- Illegal bonuses to prisoners and the unregulated use of government phones were among the alleged lapses that state auditors found in the Cebu Provincial Government’s transactions last year.

The Commission on Audit (COA), in its annual report released Thursday, questioned the release of an “anniversary bonus” to inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), which amounted to more than P3 million.

Auditors also asked the Provincial Government to establish guidelines on the use of landline phones for unofficial long-distance calls.

Capitol information consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda and Capitol department heads faced reporters yesterday to answer the government auditors’ annual report.

Sepulveda said the presentation of the audit report was to show the public that the Provincial Government is transparent on its spending of public funds.

At least 1,600 inmates of the CPDRC received P1,000 each during the 438th founding anniversary of the Province last year.