Saturday, December 06, 2008 P830T 'released' to employee By Jovi T. De Leon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO --- Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu reportedly admitted before a Civil Service Commission hearing that she released some P830,000 in cash advances to a former Capitol employee.
Victor Roque, counsel of Roperlee Syquia, issued this statement. Syquia is a former casual employee of the Provincial Government who earlier filed against Dabu.
Dabu allegedly entrusted the amount intended for various activities and projects assigned to the ex-member of Governor Eddie Panlilio's confidence team.
Roque told Sun.Star Pampanga, after the adjournment of the second hearing on the case filed by Syquia, that Dabu "admitted releasing P830,000 in cash advances to the unbonded casual employee."
On September 3, 2008, Syquia filed a seven-page complaint affidavit, decrying Dabu's grave abuse of authority, dishonesty, violation of Commission on Audit Rules and Regulations and infringement of the Government Procurement Act.
In his affidavit, Syquia outlined the offenses committed by Dabu, particularly the violation of a Commission on Audit (COA) circular on cash advances, the Government Procurement Act and the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on multiple functions and appointments.
Syquia alleged that there were a number of times Dabu went against COA rules like the transfer of cash advances to a casual employee for use in an "irregular purpose" and the assignment of huge sums for procurement of various purchases used in photo exhibits, streamers, and expensive medical equipment.
But in a counter affidavit, Dabu refuted Syquia's allegations of the transfer of funds for the projects assigned to Syquia.
"All of those things that he points to in his complaint affidavit have been cleared by COA. These projects only pushed through after they were pre-cleared by our accountants and auditors and after COA's clearance. All of them were done according to law and proper regulations," she said
In Thursday's second hearing of the case, where the media was once again barred, Sun.Star Pampanga spotted Dabu personally appearing before the CSC with her legal counsel Maria Paz Duque.
Syquia's witnesses Averell Laquindanum of KMI and Aldrin Angeles who were summoned by CSC Hearing Officer lawyer Rosalinda Tanaliga-Oliva also attended the hearing.
But Benedictine sister Celine Saplala reportedly begged off from the hearing and instead sent the video recordings through their legal counsel.
Saplala was summoned by the CSC because of Syquia's claims that she was in possession of explosive video recordings of a "secret meeting" that transpired between capitol executives and the then confidence team.
The videotapes, submitted midway through the proceedings, remained unviewed until adjournment "because no video camera was available for the viewing," a CSC insider said.
Laquindanum, meanwhile, said he got off from the hearing an hour before its adjournment, that "I was just asked about the video recording, if there was one, and I said yes."
But when asked about the alleged cash advances given to Syquia, I said how would I know when I am not even privy to government processes and procedures regarding that?"
Syquia, who came out of the CSC building jumping with joy, said he was advised by Roque to keep mum on the case pending the decision of CSC officials on its status.
Roque said it will be entirely up to the CSC Legal Office to schedule another hearing or to take other courses of action after its review of the documents and evidence submitted to them.
Syquia told Sun.Star Pampanga that he was able to breathe a sigh of relief after the hearing and his "reunion" with Dabu, but added, "it was mentally and emotionally draining."
Sun.Star Pampanga failed to reach Dabu for her comments. Her aides in her office said she was attending important meetings in Manila.
