The Commission on Audit (COA) has reaffirmed its earlier ruling holding former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) chairperson Andres Bautista and four other officials liable for the sale of three Marcos family properties at prices far below their assessed market value.
In a 16-page decision, COA rejected the petition filed by Bautista and the former PCGG officials, citing “lack of merit.” The ruling upheld the audit body’s original notices of charge totaling ₱190 million, corresponding to the undervaluation of the sequestered Marcos assets sold between 2012 and 2014.
The questioned properties were identified as the Banaue Inn Compound and JY Campos Compound in Baguio City, and the IRC Mapalad Property in Parañaque City — all part of assets previously placed under PCGG custody.
Aside from Bautista, those implicated in the case were Nelson Acebo and Ronald Chua, both former COA commissioners detailed to the PCGG, as well as Richard Amurao, who chaired the bids and awards committee, and Alfredo dela Paz, then director of the agency’s Asset Management Division.
According to COA, Bautista was held responsible for approving the sale, while Amurao, Chua, Acebo, and Dela Paz were faulted for evaluating and endorsing the bid offers that led to the undervaluation of the properties.
The ruling underscores COA’s stance that government officials are expected to safeguard public assets and ensure that transactions involving sequestered properties reflect fair and just valuation in favor of the state.