“In government, when something is prone to abuse, it would surely be abused” – Atty. Comafay on proposed issuance of credit cards to Tabuk City officials

Tabuk City, Kalinga — Attorney Errol Comafay expressed his concerns on social media regarding the proposal to issue credit cards to Tabuk City officials for official transactions.

In a now-deleted post by the Tabuk City Public Information Office, it was reported that representatives from the Land Bank of the Philippines proposed issuing credit cards to selected city government offices to cover official fuel, accommodation, and transportation expenses.

The post drew numerous criticisms, particularly from Atty. Comafay, who shared the Budget Office’s concern that such a measure could lead to potential abuse if not strictly monitored.

In an interview with GURU Press Cordillera, Atty. Comafay argued that the credit cards are unnecessary.

“In government, when something is prone to abuse, it would surely be abused. That’s the problem. I don’t see any instance when an emergency requiring the use of a credit card would arise. City officials never run out of money — they can always pay with their personal funds and later reimburse it. Better yet, they can get their own personal credit cards. Surely, the banks would approve their applications,” said Comafay.

The proposal, which was discussed by several city councilors, aims to make city government transactions more efficient.

When asked about possible legal implications, Comafay said there is no law prohibiting the use of credit cards by the city government. However, he warned that it might lead to additional expenses, such as annual fees, penalties for late payments, and other bank charges that could burden public funds.