In separate interviews, Senators Surangel Whipps, Jr. and Joel Toribiong said they support an earlier call by Delegate Jonathan Isechal that the Chief Executive name a permanent appointee to the position.
Palau has been without a full-fledged Public Auditor for the last 10 years.
“As such that the position is an important one, the president should appoint a full-time Public Auditor as soon as possible,” said Toribiong.
Likewise, Whipps also voiced his support to the call. “There is no reason to delay appointing a permanent Public Auditor because its role auditing the disbursement of all public funds is essential to maintaining transparency and public accountability of the government,” he stressed.
For the past 10 years the position has been occupied and duties of a Public Auditor have been performed by Saturino Tewid in an acting capacity.
Tewid was not originally eligible to fill the role of Public Auditor because he is not a certified public accountant, as required by law.
But with the passage of RPPL 7-25 in January 2007, Tewid’s years of service, successfully filling the role of Acting Public Auditor, qualified him for appointment to the full position.
But despite the fact the position has remained unfilled and Tewid continues to head that office in an acting capacity where he could be replaced anytime by the appointing power.
Isechal earlier said that the situation continues to compromise the independence of the Public Auditor’s Office and the one heading it, and should be rectified with the appointment of a full-fledged Public Auditor.
The Public Auditor is protected from political reprisal for his work, in that he or she can only be removed for cause, with the approval of two-thirds of both houses of Congress. An acting Public Auditor has no such protection.
The authority to appoint a Public Auditor rests with the President, subject to confirmation by the Olbiil Era Kelulau.
A Public Auditor functions as the head of Public Auditor’s Office.
