|
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Prosecutor's decision is unfair: Capadosa
PROVINCIAL Board Member Cecilia Capadosa cried fowl on the resolution that she and Governor Niel Tupas Sr. are liable for five counts of malversation of public funds over the alleged ghost P506,250 for seminars and trainings of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP).
Capadosa expressed belief that the decision of the Provincial Prosecutor's Office (PPO) was part of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez's "politics."
In an interview over Aksyon Radyo, Capadosa questioned the PPO's decision of excluding the administration's allies, Vice Governor Roberto Armada and Board Member Bernardo Silla, whom she said requested and availed of the same funds.
"... the Governor's allies were only prosecuted but Obet and Silla were not. Why only us? I have a perception that this is purely politicking," she said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Treasurer Melba Sullivan, Provincial Budget Officer Elina Lim, Provincial Accountant Lyd Tupas and Benjamin Dosado, who were involved with the same complaint, were freed.
Provincial Prosecutor Bernabe Dusaban, dismissed the complaint in his four-page resolution.
Dusaban, and four others from the PPO were reportedly created by the DOJ to conduct an investigation and find a probable cause in filing a case against the respondents.
Four others were Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera as vice-chairman of the investigating panel; First Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Jamie Umpa, Assistant State Prosecutor Virgilio Garcia and Senior State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog served as members.
They were included in the complaint of malversation and falsification of public funds and violation of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) filed last year by People's Graftwatch of Iloilo (PGI).
In the same complaint, Tupas was alleged to have released P506,250 for "ghost and fictitious" financial assistance to the PBMLP for the conduct of training programs.
While Capadosa, who was the treasurer of the PBMLP, was tagged as the treasurer and claimant of the checks knowing "...the purpose of training was not existing."
Capadosa said that the funds were requested by the Provincial Board members including the Vice Governor, for the Governor's approval. If approved, the release of money goes through the Budget Department and the accounting processes. Only after which she claimed the checks and gave them to the requesting members.
The said amount is the Board Members' budget on community direct actions project (Cidap). The project entitled the board members to hold hearings, seminars and information dissemination on matters of governance, said Capadosa. (LABB)
(June 27, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
