Friday, October 19, 2007
LTO to seek claim over properties of missing cashier
THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) will file a petition for the attachment of the properties of cashier Marissa Abear Veriña to offset the P5.6 million in public funds, which she allegedly failed to account for.
Veriña, who failed to report back for work since last Sept. 13, is believed to have slipped abroad to escape prosecution. She is facing charges for gross dishonesty and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.
The cases were filed by LTO 7 Legal Officer Vicente Gador Jr. before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas last Oct. 10.
Gador said that to recover the amount allegedly embezzled by Veriña totaling P5,563,156.38, all the properties owned by the hiding cashier must be attached to the case or to LTO so the respondent could not dispose of them.
Financial records
The unsettled amount was discovered by an audit team composed of Macario Getaruelas, Jinky Estrada and Lovelyn Sulip who examined the financial records of LTO 7 based on the complaints of personnel that they failed to encash their paychecks at the Land Bank of the Philippines due to insufficient funds.
The team was created by LTO 7 Director Alex Leyson after Veriña admitted to him that she used the money during a confrontation last Sept. 12.
The audit, which covered transactions from Jan. 1 to July 31, 2007, showed that Veriña and LTO 7 Administrative Officer Gonzalo Baybay issued 19 checks, 17 of which in the name of Veriña herself.
The 18th check was issued in the name of Reynaldo Dante in the amount of P706,000, although he is not a creditor of LTO. The 19th check, amounting to P18,000 was issued to Assistant Regional Director Edgar Cabase, which they presumed to be an unsettled cash advance.
Declarations
Gador said that to attach Veriña’s properties, there’s a need to research for copies of land titles and tax declarations covering real estate, bank deposits or personal assets including jewelry.
He said that while Veriña reportedly owned a house at Deca Homes, Tongkil, Minglanilla, Cebu, they still have to find out whether this property was bought in cash or in installment.
The Veriña family also reportedly owned a vast tract of land in Argao town.
Gador also said LTO may also request the anti-graft office or the court to attach the properties of Dante until he can show proof why the LTO should not take back the P706,000 he got from Veriña.
Gador added that the ombudsman should order Dante to explain why Veriña paid him the amount when he had no transaction with LTO 7. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 19, 2007 issue)
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