Sabuga-a: Current City Hall Cash Advances Irregular, Uy Admin Insists Cash Advances Are Normal

By Mona Lagbas

April 30, 2025 Cagayan de Oro City_"This is highly irregular. The cash advance system is meant for urgent, specific needs. But in these instances, it raises serious concerns about transparency and the potential misuse of public funds,”said former city welfare and development officer Teddy Sabuga-a.

Former city social welfare officer Teddy Sabuga-a.

Sabuga-a was referring to multimillion cash advances made by who Sabuga-a called as ordinary employees of the current city administration.He added that although cash advances are legal and covered under Republic Act 9184 and COA Circular 08-002, he contends that, usually, department heads are allowed to make such transactions and that checks should be issued to suppliers and not to selected individuals.

Sabuga-a, a political ally of former city mayor Oscar Moreno, is planning to ask COA to investigate this matter while he is calling for a public disclosure of liquidation reports.

Sabuga-a disclosed that thirteen persons repeatedly made cash advances from December 16, 2022 until January 2, 2025 with a total amount of P306 million and citing projects, public fora and other needs as reasons for these transactions.

"Kung tinuod nga naa ning mga forum, ngano ipaagi man sa cash advance? Ngano dili man isyuhan og tseke ang supplier?” asked Sabuga-a.

In response, Mayor Rolando "Klarex" Uy's Spokesperson Jann Guillmore Actub said that cash advances are normal in LGUs.

Mayor Rolando "Klarex " Uy Spokesperson Jannboy Actub.

"Normal lang nga transaksyon o’ proseso ang pagpagawas og kuarta sa gobyerno pinaagi sa cash advances," said Actub.

He added that Sabuga-a's allegations are lies and are baseless.

“Tungod kay panahon karon sa eleksyon, busa, dili na ikatingala nga daghan ang magbuhat-buhat sa mga isyu ug istorya nga walay kapasikaran aron lang pagdaot sa kredibilidad ug reputasyon sa usa ka kandidato, ilabina si Mayor Klarex Uy,” decried Actub.

According to Mr. Actub, due process was practiced in these transactions like proper accounting, auditing, and liquidation as mandated by COA.

"Kini nga ‘government procedure' ang gisunod ug gisubay sa nag-unang mga buhatan sa city hall sama sa City Budget Office, City Accounting Office ug City Finance Department kung adunay mag-cash advance", Actub further disclosed.

“Naa man mga buhatan sa gobyerno nga mohatag sa ilang ‘audit findings’ kung adunay makit-an nga iregularidad sa paggamit sa kuarta sa gobyerno. Makalaum ang katawhan nga gigamit sa ensakto ang kuarta ug nakasunod sa proseso ug wala kini giwaldas o’ kaha gibulsa”, said Mr. Actub. He concluded that these persons who made cash advances are "bonded" and "accountable".