COA calls out Noy for P138-M unliquidated foreign trips, fund transfers

The Commission on Audit said former President Benigno Aquino III still has a total of P138.027 million disbursed travel funds which have yet to be liquidated as of the end of 2016.

MANILA, Philippines — It has been more than a year since he becomes a private citizen but former President Benigno Aquino III still has some explaining to do before the Commission on Audit in connection with his trips abroad when he was in office.

In its annual audit report released Thursday, the COA said Aquino still has a total of P138.027 million disbursed travel funds which have yet to be liquidated as of the end of 2016.

The COA said the amounts were transferred to designated embassies and consulates which handled or arranged Aquino's foreign trips.

“For CYs 2011 to 2015 a total of P138,027,229.03 fund transfers remained unliquidated as of December 31, 2016 for the foreign travels of the then President. Since all Presidential foreign trips during the past administration were completed the said amount should have been expended,” the COA report read.

“However, settlement thereof could not be made due to the non-submission of the liquidation reports or the disbursement reports of the authorized SDOs (special disbursement officers) of the DFA,” it added.