Should Cebu city gov’t pay ACT for city scholarships?

The Cebu City Government wants the Commission on Audit (COA) to give a clear opinion on whether  the city should  pay the Asian College of Technology International Educational Foundation (ACTIEF) for the city’s scholars.

City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo wrote to COA after the school’s management  reportedly withheld  the Transcript of Records (TOR) of  city scholars who graduated  last Saturday.

“The Cebu City Government, through undersigned office, respectfully requests for your advice on the effect of the decision involving (Rep.) Rodrigo Abellanosa and its current status as well as the effect of the pending criminal case for violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Abellanosa on the billings submitted by ACTIEF to the city government,” read Castillo’s letter   to COA’s resident auditor for Cebu City Daisy Bercede.

In October last year, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal  of Cebu City south district Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa, owner of the school,  after he was found guilty of grave misconduct for conflict of interest.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of a criminal case against Abellanosa for violation of Section 3(i) of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

READ: Abellanosa schools out of Cebu City scholarship program

Abellanosa was the trustee-president of Asian College of Technology and ACTIEF when he signed a memorandum of agreement with the city government for the scholarship program. Abellanosa owns the two schools accredited by the city government. He also participated in the accreditation of schools for the program as a city councilor.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente refrained from issuing an opinion. He said he  wants to stay  impartial the case may be sent to his office for action.

“We found it more appropriate to ask the COA since they have jurisdiction over disbursement of public funds. But at the same time we still sent a letter asking for an opinion to the DILG,” Castillo told reporters.

READ: Abellanosa: Ombud dismissal ‘not final’

In his letter to COA, Castillo said Cebu City received billings from the ACTIEF for the “scholarship privileges of the Cebu City government Scholars” amounting to P26 million for 2,805 scholars enrolled in the school in the second semester of school year 2014-2015.

Sought for comment, Abellanosa said he  stopped being ACTIEF president and board member since he assumed office in July 2013.

The school’s  president, Dr. Stephen Descallar said it was still “premature” to say that the TORs of the students are withheld by the school since the  scholars recently took part in the graduation.

“The TORs are still to be prepared. CHED still has to issue the special orders. It will take a while to finally release the TORs considering that CHED handles all the graduates in Region VII,” he said.
Descallar also said they are no longer interested with  payment from the city government.