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 Here’s a member of the COA Family every COAn can be truly
proud of - State Auditor IV Virgilio Jose Mapalad of COA Region II.
Auditor Mapalad is one of this year’s “Dangal ng Bayan”
awardees.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo conferred the Dangal ng
Bayan award on Mapalad and eight others during formal awards rites held at the
Heroes Hall of Malacanang on September 27, 2001 on the occasion of the
celebration of this year’s Civil Service Month.
Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karina Constantino David
and Ombudsman Aniano Disierto assisted President Arroyo during the awards
ceremonies.
Inscribed in the Dangal ng Bayan trophy given to Mapalad was
the citation of his outstanding performance as a COA State Auditor as well as
his commendable observance of the code of conduct and ethical standards for
public officials and employees embodied in Republic Act No. 6713, as follows:
This
“DANGAL NG BAYAN AWARD”
is given to
VIRGILIO J. MAPALAD
State Auditor IV, Commission on Audit
Region II, Tuguegarao, Cagayan
“For valiantly tracing malversation scams that included
overpricing and grossly overstated shares which involved high ranking government
officials. He relentlessly pursued cases despite threats to his family and
career. He calmly endured the loss of friends and relatives who were called to
testify in scandalous cases. Despite his position’s vulnerability to red tape
and corruption, he adhered to a simple lifestyle, preferring to be conscientious
and honest.”
Besides the handsome trophy which National Artist Napoleon
Abueva designed, each Dangal ng Bayan Awardee received a P100,000 cash bonus;
two nights accommodation for two at the historic Manila Hotel; and automatic
promotion to the next higher position.
The other Dangal ng Bayan awardees were Eduardo Pangilinan, a
Utility Worker at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Tala, Caloocan City;
Mary Ann Allera, Secondary School Teacher I, DECS, Lapasan National High School,
Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City.
Judge Placido C. Marquez, Executive Judge, Regional Trial
Court Branch 81, 4th Judicial District, Romblon, Romblon; Divina Moren Mendoza,
Day Care Worker II, Lipa City; Timoteo R. Lago, Jr., Project Development Officer
III, Philippine Coconut Authority, Calanggaman, Ubay, Bohol.
Vilma Liwaliw Pangsilat, Jail Officer I, Baguio City Jail,
Baguio City; Cecilia R. Detablan, SPO4, Chief Investigator, Branch RIID, PRO-6,
Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City; and Ligaya S. Cabal, Police Chief Inspector,
Balistics Division, Crime Laboratory, PRO-4, Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang Laguna.
Auditor Mapalad, who is married to the former Lolita R. Pera
with whom he has three children - Virgilio Jr., Joel and Mary Jane - had earlier
been honored as one of the Five Outstanding COAns for year 2001 during the 102nd
COA annivesary celebrations last May.
COA cited him for his honesty and courage as an auditor. His
recent audit that unearthed the forest tax collection irregularities at the
DENR-Quirino Provincial Office triggered a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee
investigation and resulted in the issuance of a DBM Circular that provides for
stringent requirements for the release of local government shares in the
national wealth.
The committee that screened this year’s nominees and
selected the awardees was composed of CSC Chairperson Karina Constantino David
and Ombudsman Aniano Desierto as Co-Chairman, with COA Chairman Guillermo N.
Carague, Dr. Bella Villanueva of UP and Ms. Amelia Anonuevo of NHA as members.
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