Who has the final say on payment claims against government agencies — COA or a Court?

The Court of Appeals upheld that the Commission on Audit (COA) has the last say when it comes to payment of money claims against government agencies despite a writ of execution issued by a Court.

In the case between the Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) versus Yale Hardware Corporation, Associate Justice Danton Burser dismissed the petition of MWSS on the grounds that COA can still exercise its authority and power even if a court’s decision in a case has already become final and executory as it still retains its primary jurisdiction to adjudicate a claim even after the issuance of a writ of execution. Despite the rendition of a final and executory judgment validating said money claim against an agency or instrumentality of the government, the claimant has to first seek the COA’s approval of the monetary claim, and its filing with the COA is a condition sine qua non before payment can be effected.

MWSS refused to pay Yale as it delivered products that do not meet technical requirements. Yale filed a case and a lower court decided in Yale’s favor, prompting MWSS to pay.

MWSS filed an appeal; however , the Court of Appeals dismissed the petition saying that while the writ of execution issued by the Manila court is proper, it does not do away with government regulations requiring the approval by the COA for payment.

Source: Benjamin Pulta, Philippine News Agency