Saturday, September 13, 2008 Madridejos dad charged with graft
FOR asking a cash refund for a seminar that he did not attend, a councilor of Madridejos, Cebu is facing a complaint for malversation of public funds and dishonesty.
Madridejos Vice Mayor Doroteo Salazar filed criminal and administrative complaints against Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president and Councilor Doroteo Dorimon before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas yesterday.
Salazar said Dorimon, along with the rest of the municipal councilors, received a total of P20,927.80 of the municipality’s funds to attend a seminar in Tagaytay last Nov. 26 to 28.
The seminar was on local legislation and gender development. It cost P5,800 for each official’s board and lodging. Each councilor also asked for a cash advance of P15,127.80 for expenses for the three days, including their fare and honorarium.
But upon reaching Tagaytay, the group found that Dorimon and another councilor, Emelita Gabito, were missing. The two reportedly did not show up on all three days of the seminar.
But last Feb. 1, Dorimon allegedly “demanded a refund for board and lodging” for the Tagaytay seminar. Salazar’s secretaries, reportedly unaware of Dorimon’s absence at the seminar and without the vice mayor’s knowledge, gave Dorimon the refund.
Salazar said he asked Municipal Aaccountant Jaime Quioge for the councilors’ liquidation of their P15,127.80 pocket money, including that of Dorimon.
After the third request, Quioge told Salazar to ask the liquidation from Dorimon himself.
But Dorimon reportedly refused to accept the letter requesting him for a liquidation of his expenses, both when it was personally delivered and when it was sent by mail.
Salazar filed his complaint against Dorimon yesterday. He accused Dorimon of malversation of public funds, grave abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official in refusing to settle his cash advance.
Salazar also asked the ombudsman to order Dorimon’s suspension or separation from service and to refund the whole amount that he received for the Tagaytay seminar. (KAB)
