By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

WITH over 1,400 requests for audits, investigations, reviews and analyses from various agencies, the Office of the Public Auditor says it will be asking the presiding officers of the Legislature to come up with a system that establishes lawmakers’ priorities when it comes to audit and probe requests with OPA.
Public Auditor Mike Sablan said the Legislature can help ensure that the most important investigations and audits get the highest priority by coordinating among themselves and determining what should come first, instead of filing their sometimes overlapping and duplicative requests with OPA all at once.
“It’s important that they establish priorities. Nobody has the resources to put everything into a project whenever it is requested. Lawmakers can help in making sure there is prudent use of resources,” Sablan said in a phone interview.
At least 12 new requests have been filed with OPA just in the last few days. Sablan said some of the requests don’t fall under OPA’s jurisdiction. OPA, he added, has over 1,400 requests for audits, investigations, reviews and analyses, as well as 15 ongoing audits and over 30 ongoing investigations, in addition to other responsibilities like procurement protest adjudications, a public education campaign, and campaign finance matters..