Supreme Court of the Philippines (PNA file photo)
MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the ruling of the Commission on Audit (COA) disallowing the grant of bonuses and financial assistance to officials and workers of a local water district.
The San Rafael Water District (SRWD), through its general manager Numeriano Castañeda Jr., had filed the case challenging the COA’s disallowances dated November 2012 which disallowed payment of additional allowances and bonuses to employees amounting to PHP 857,340, and year-end financial assistance and cash gift to the SWRD Board of Directors for 2011 amounting to PHP239,000.
In its 25-page decision published online on July 17, the SC en banc ruled that “the COA did not act with grave abuse of discretion in upholding the liability of the employee-recipients for the return of the disallowed amount.”
“There were no evidence proffered showing that the allowances and bonuses given were in consideration of the actual services rendered or work accomplished by the employee-recipients. Consequently, having received the benefits by mistake, they are legally obliged to return the same amounts through salary deduction or any other mode which the COA may deem just and proper,’” the Court said. (PNA)
