Comelec to withhold salaries of personnel with unliquidated cash advances

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will withhold the salaries and benefits of officials and employees who have unliquidated cash advances following a report from the Commission on Audit that it had P2 billion unliquidated cash advances in 2022.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Monday that the Commission en banc passed a resolution on the withholding of salaries and benefits of personnel until they have liquidated their cash advances.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

He added that the poll body may also file charges against those who will not properly liquidate their cash advances.

Garcia confirmed the COA report but said that the unliquidated advances had gone down to P717,154,871.57 as of July 12, 2023.

The poll chief assured the COA that the remaining amount to be fully liquidated will be settled and accounted for in the soonest possible time.

“The liquidation of cash advances is a continuing administrative process,” he pointed out.

Of the P2.1 billion in unliquidated cash advances, P2.089 billion was granted in 2022. Of the amount, P1.9 billion was for Comelec Special Disbursing Officers and P188.9 million for Comelec officers and employees.