ROME, ITALY – The Philippine’s Commission on Audit (COA) was appointed as External Auditor of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for another six-year term during the 148^th session of the FAO Finance Committee last March 19, 2013. It was selected over other shortlisted candidates, Germany and United Kingdom.

This is the second time that the Commission will serve as FAO External Auditor. It was first elected last June 2007 at the FAO Council’s 132^nd session with a four-year term from 2008. In April 2011, its term was extended for the period 2012-2013 during the 141^st session of the FAO Council.

March 18, 2013 – As the nation celebrates Women’s Month, the third woman to complete an all-women Commission on Audit (COA) aptly promised to give priority to gender and development.

Newly appointed COA Commissioner Maria Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, known as a litigation lawyer in the pioneer field of gender discrimination and violence against women, took her oath of office before Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno today.

The Commission on Audit (COA) commended five state auditors whose testimonies and exemplary audit work secured the Sandiganbayan convictions of former education and air force officials in separate graft cases.

State Auditors Araceli P. Geli, Joel C. Digal, Carlos C. Tagudin and Cresilda T. Caballero were recognized for their commendable audit work, skill and judgment that aided the conviction of two former officials of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) for involvement in various overpriced, ghost and uncompleted projects in Region XI.