BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) — The provincial government of Negros Occidental could save thousands of pesos if the Supreme Court decides to prohibit judges from receiving allowances from local government units.
This was confirmed by Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan, who said that about 20 judges from the regional trial courts all over the province receive a P5,000 monthly allowance from the provincial government.
Aside from the judges, prosecutors also receive P2,000 each every month from the Capitol.
It has been a practice allowed under the Commission on Audit rules, Pinongan said.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno is pushing to prohibit judges from receiving allowances from LGUs.
Pinongan said the judges’ allowances started at P2,000 and has been increasing until it reached P5,000 every month.
All in all, the provincial government releases about P100,000 for the judges’ allowances every month, he added.
Meanwhile, Pinongan explained that the granting of monthly mobile phone loads worth P1,000 to division heads at the Capitol is legal.
The legal explanation is now ready for submission to the COA after the agency asked for it in its Audit Observation Report, he said.