Town official in trouble over P6T cash advance

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has directed Compostela Mayor Joel Quiño to enforce the one month and a day suspension without pay of the town’s social welfare officer, who failed to settle her cash advances amounting to P6,429 on time.

Deputy Ombudsman Paul Elmer Clemente approved the recommendation of Marilyn Israel-Torres, graft investigation and prosecution officer, who found Susan Paradiang liable for simple neglect of duty.

The ombudsman gave the Department of the Interior and Local Government 7 five days to submit a compliance report, pursuant to the provision of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and RA 6770, or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

The Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office filed administrative cases accusing Paradiang of misconduct and neglect of duty.

Paradiang received the cash advances on various dates from 2001 to 2010.

Replying to the cases, Paradiang said the supposedly unsettled advances were only portions of the gross amounts of the cash advances granted to her.

Settled under protest

But Paradiang said she already settled under protest the entire amount on Dec. 20, 2016 yet.

In the decision, the graft investigator said that Paradiang only settled her advances after she received the ombudsman’s order directing her to submit her counter-affidavit to the charges filed against her.

“While her actuation does not appear willful and deliberate, and without intention to cause damage to the government, her omission nonetheless warrants administrative sanction,” the ombudsman said.

Citing Section 89 of Presidential Decree 1445, or the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines, the ombudsman said that an accountable officer is required to settle her advances within 20 days after the end of the year.

If the suspension could no longer be enforced due to the respondent’s separation from office, a fine equivalent to one month and a day’s pay shall be deducted from her salary.

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