We read in local and national newspapers about the Commission on Audit (COA) order for executives of 31 government agencies to return the unauthorized bonuses they received in 2012 to the tune of P2.313 billion.
In addition to the unauthorized bonuses, there still are:
1.The billions of pesos scammers stole from the Priority Development Assistance Fund, Malampaya Fund, insertions, etc.; and
2. The unliquidated cash advances (some of them decades old).
It appears nothing will come out of the COA order to collect these. So I suggest the COA deputize competent, experienced and honest collectors to go after the crooks. The deputized collector must be a CPA-lawyer, and before going to the field he or she must be thoroughly briefed and equipped with the following documents: a) authority to collect; b) official receipts; c) promissory note (if whole amount is not paid) and its corresponding security; d) authority to prosecute.
With the amount collected, we can build more hospitals and more school buildings, raise the salaries of public school teachers and soldiers and buy more fire trucks.
Lastly, I hope the COA chair reconsiders her nomination to the Supreme Court. She is performing very well as COA chief.
—BERNARDO V. PERALTA,
retired accounting professor,
Cebu City