Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
in
ACCO 2083
Dizon, Eunice B.
BSA 3-6
Physical Control of Meralco
Internal Controls and Audit
The internal audit activities conform to the concepts and principles enunciated in the definition
of internal auditing as an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to
add value and improve an organization’s operations. Internal audit services are performed in
accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
The internal audit group is led by a chief audit executive and includes 23 other staff with
professional qualifications, which include Certified Internal Auditors, Certified Information
Systems Auditors and Certified Public Accountants. The tasks of the internal audit group are set
out in the Corporate Audit Charter and the Code of Corporate Governance of Meralco. To
provide for independence of the internal audit group, the chief audit executive reports
functionally to the AuditCom and administratively to the President and CEO in a manner
outlined in the Corporate Audit Charter.
Ms. Helen T. de Guzman, the First Vice President and Chief Audit Executive of the Manila
Electric Company or MERALCO, heads the company’s Corporate (Internal) Audits. Prior to her
internal audit posting, she held other positions within the MERALCO group and other companies
as external auditor, accounting officer, finance and administrative officer, comptroller, assistant
general manager, treasury operations officer & assistant treasurer and compliance officer.
Ms. De Guzman is a Certified Internal Auditor, a Certified Public Accountant, an Executive
MBA degree holder from the Asian Institute of Management, and a Fellow of the Institute of
Corporate Directors of the Philippines. She likewise belongs to the core group of independent
validators of the Institute of Internal Auditors Philippines (IIAP) and is a qualified team leader
for external quality assessment reviews.
Annually, a risk-based internal audit plan is prepared and approved by the AuditCom.
The internal audit group issues reports to Senior Management and the Audit and Risk
Management Committee on the results of reviews and audits covering various operational units
of the Company and its subsidiaries including specific areas of concern identified by
Management. Significant concerns, which have been reported by the internal audit group, and the
implementation of responsive remedial measures, are monitored by Management and by the
AuditCom.
External Auditor
SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.) was reappointed as the independent external auditor
of the Company through the approval of shareholders in the Annual General Meeting on May 28,
2013.
The engagement partner assigned to the Company in 2014 is Martin C. Guantes who has
extensive accounting and auditing experience. The appointment is in accordance with the SEC
regulation on the qualification of external auditors.
The AuditCom ensures that the independence of the external auditors is maintained. In line with
this, the AuditCom does not allow engagement of SGV in any non-audit work that (i) will
conflict with their duties as external auditors or (ii) may impair or pose a threat to their
independence. Any non-audit work, if allowed, is disclosed in the Meralco Annual Report.
DATA DISCLOSURE AND SHARING
Access to personal information is restricted to MERALCO employees and contractors on a need
to know basis to carry out their responsibilities with regard to the conduct of the business such as
meter reading, bill delivery, field inspection, energization, and restoration of your electric
service. They require their contractors, through a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), to secure
and keep the customers information confidential and they do not allow them to disclose the
information to others, or to use it for their own purposes.
The customer’s information may also be disclosed to government entities pursuant to and in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, subpoena or court order.
INFORMATION SECURITY
MERALCO is committed to ensure that their customer’s information is secure. MERALCO shall
undertake and implement reasonable organizational, physical, and technical security measures in
collecting, receiving, transmitting, storing, and disposing your personal information.
For an enhanced online experience, their services are available through compatible devices, such
as laptops, PCs, tablets and mobile phones. The customers are responsible for the security of
your information once it reaches their representative in any medium, including but not limited to
written correspondences, bills, emails, system applications, and on-line accounts. They should
take appropriate measures to ensure that any medium or device they use to monitor or manage
their account is secure and not accessible to anyone without permission.
A cookie is a small file, which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once
you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyze web traffic or lets you know when you
visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The
web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and
remembering information about your preferences.
MERALCO use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyze
data about web page traffic and improve our website to enhance your browsing experience. A
cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the
data you choose to share with us.
MERALCO receive and store certain types of information (such as the amount of time you spend
on the site and the number of views you made on each page, the IP address of your device, and
the browser and operating system that you are using) when you interact with our website, mobile
website, emails and online advertising to monitor proper functionality, determine areas for
continuous improvement and to support website requirements. This information is gathered
automatically, temporarily stored in log files and removed from the system at a certain point.
a. for the fulfillment of the declared, specified, and legitimate purposes provided above, or
when the processing relevant to the purpose has been completed or terminated;
b. for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims; or
c. for other business purposes, that are consistent with standards established or approved by
regulatory agencies governing MERALCO
Thereafter, your personal data shall be disposed or discarded in a secure manner that would
prevent further processing, unauthorized access, or disclosure to any other party or the public.
MERALCO collects:
A. For customers
1. providing and continuously improving our electric
services, as well as managing your account
2. responding to your inquiry, concern or complaint
3. sending information about our programs (POP, ILP)
and service offerings (DSM, etc) that may be of interest
to you
4. sending messages related to your services such as outage notifications, updates,
alerts, and other information that you request
5. enabling us to accept bill payments according to your enrolled payment
mode (i.e., automatic debit from your bank account)
6. verifying your identity when you access your account through the various
customer engagement channels (e.g., e-mail, website, mobile application, via
phone call, walk-in)
7. verifying your identity and eligibility to claim refunds
B. For prospective, active and separated employees
1. evaluating your eligibility for initial employment, including the verification of
your qualifications and character references (background checking)
2. administering your pay, statutory deductions, entitlements, and benefits
3. complying with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements and submissions
4. conducting performance reviews and rewards
5. establishing appropriate training and/or developmental interventions
6. administering disciplinary action and sanction
7. collecting and maintaining contact information
8. maintaining your employment records
9. processing employee work-related claims (e.g. worker compensation, insurance
claims, etc.)
10. developing health and wellness programs
Dizon, Eunice B.
BSA 3-6
Fujitsu executives appoint new legal counsel in fraud case
In July 2017, according to Manila Bulletin, Fujitsu Philippines board members Shiro Ogata,
Hiroshi Nakamura, and Tomoji Sato recently acquired the services of the Romulo Mabanta
Buenaventura Sayoc and De Los Angeles Law Firm, to represent them in their ongoing case of
estafa.
Apart from Ogata, Nakamura, and Sato, other respondents in thecase include Fujitsu directors
Junichi Sato, Ernesto Espinosa, Socorro Silva, and Wilfredo Pantig. Also facing charges are real-
estate brokerage firm CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) and its Chairman and President Frederick
Santos, and an agent named Joey Radovan.
Berny Realty and Development Corporation (BDRC) filed the case after Fujitsu, through CBRE,
sold them a 20-hectare property at The First Philippine Industrial Park II (FPIP) in Tanauan,
Batangas for P150 million. This sale was first settled through a handshake agreement between
Ogata and BDRC representative Necisto Sytengco (as witnessed by Santos and Radovan), before
being formalized in writing days later through a letter signed by Sato. Accordingly, BDRC
issued checks amounting to P30 million as downpayment, based on the agreed-upon terms of the
sale.
Trusting that they were now the rightful owner of the property, BDRC then spent another P5
million for repairs and assessment, and secured all the necessary permits from the Philippine
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in support of their business plans.
The problem began when Fujitsu and CBRE refused to execute a Deed of Absolute Sale, despite
follow-ups from BDRC and an offer to pay the remaining balance for the property. According to
the Japanese firm, they needed to “obtain the approval of FPIP” before completing the sale,
allegedly because Fujitsu “did not want to offend them.”
Later, it was revealed that Fujitsu sold the property to FPIP at the lower price of P110 million.
FPIP then re-sold 6 out of the 20 hectares of the property to another company for P896 million,
thereby earning a profit of P786 million while retaining ownership of the 14 remaining hectares.
In the letter addressed to the Makati RTC Branch 50, no reason was provided for the change in
counsel, other than it was “the instruction of the clients.” Ogata, Nakamura, and Sato were
previously represented by Flaminiano Arroyo & Duenas.