OPAPRU directs officials to comply with COA recommendations

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) has directed its officials to comply with the recommendations of State Auditors after it reported unliquidated funds amounting to P50.6 million.

OPAPRU also said that cases have already been filed in relation to the unliquidated cash advances, which were also recommended by COA.

"Following COA’s directives, a bulk of unliquidated cash advances since 2015 carried over from the previous administrations amounting to P38.6 million have led to the filing of cases with the Office of the Ombudsman," said OPAPRU in a statement released on Saturday. 

"These have been filed against former officials and employees who are no longer connected with the agency," added OPAPRU. 

The agency, which was previously known as the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), said that one employee has already been dismissed while most cases are still awaiting resolution.

OPAPRU also added that it has already imposed salary deductions to accountable special disbursing officers (SDOs).

The peace negotiating agency expressed confidence that it would be able to settle the issue by the end of the year.

"As of August 2023, P8.6 million or 72% of the P12-million unliquidated cash advances has already been liquidated with a P3.4 million or 28% remaining balance. Based on the current actions being taken, the OPAPRU is positive it will be able to close by year end the pending unliquidated cash advances," said OPAPRU.

"The OPAPRU remains committed to applying the best accounting practices while enforcing its mandate of pushing forward the comprehensive Philippine peace process," it added. —VAL, GMA Intergated News