DISMISSED Philippine Military Academy (PMA) comptroller Hector Maraña is now being held at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Prior to his transfer, Maraña was under the “intense” custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, said AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo.
Maraña was found guilty of malversation in July. President Rodrigo Duterte signed and announced Marana’s dismissal order in front of businessman during the launching of the Go Negosyo’s “Pilipinas Angat Lahat” program in Malacañang on Tuesday, August 14.
Arevalo said Maraña had been restricted to the military camp since June 2015, when he was arraigned over charges of fraud against the government, conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman and conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.
He said the charges stemmed from the audit conducted by the AFP office of treasurer in April 2013, which found that a total of P15.067 million was missing from the PMA’s cadet funds.
Maraña was designated as treasurer of the cadet corps AFP headquarters tactics group at the PMA on December 16, 2006 and was reassigned to the AFP headquarters in December 2012.
“(He) Left without proper turnover of financial and property accountabilities, when asked to liquidate and turn over the funds to his successor, he failed to do so,” said Arevalo.
He said it was also found that Maraña lent the money to several private individuals.
In July, Arevalo said the court martial rendered the decision and found him guilty of the charges and meted him six to 10 years of imprisonment, separation from military service, forfeiture of all benefits and to pay a fine amounting to P15.067 million or equivalent to the amount he was charged of malversation which may be sourced from his properties or may be settled by his family. (SunStar Philippines)