Comelec gets highest audit rating for second consecutive year

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received its second “unqualified opinion” from the Commission on Audit (COA). INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has received its second “unqualified opinion” from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The Comelec obtained the highest COA rating for two consecutive years.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia welcomed the recognition on Monday, citing its importance to the poll body.

READ: Comelec receives highest rating from COA

“We have maintained the unqualified opinion for the second year. As we have said, the Comelec will stand by this until the term of Commissioner [Ernesto] Maceda [Jr] ends,” Garcia told reporters.

COA awards the unqualified or unmodified opinion “when the auditor concludes that the financial statements are prepared, in all material respects, following the applicable financial reporting framework.

“No problems, defects, or excesses or whatever were seen in the accounting documents we submitted for our expenditures,” he said.

Garcia also underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in properly documenting and reporting the poll body’s expenditures.

READ: Result of Comelec audit is ‘best basis’ for poll protest — expert

“We thank our personnel… those in the field offices, because they are the reason behind this award. This is not just because of the Comelec en banc,” he said./coa