CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict a municipal treasurer in Samar province for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code in connection with unliquidated cash advances totaling P12,367,986.35 granted from 2009 to 2012.
In its resolution, the Ombudsman stated that “public funds had been recorded as disbursed in 2011 and 2012 yet the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents for the transactions were not submitted by Virginia Uy, treasurer of San Sebastian town, to the Commission on Audit (COA).
The Ombudsman noted that Uy was also “the payee of the checks, therefore, she was personally accountable for the funds.”
Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code states that: "Any public officer, whether in the service or separated therefrom by resignation or any other cause, who is required by law or regulation to render account to the Insular Auditor, or to a provincial auditor and who fails to do so for a period of two months after such accounts should be rendered, shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum period, or by a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both."
Meanwhile, Jerry Benedict Rosete, information officer IV of the Ombudsman, said Friday the COA also found that the municipality was charged with penalties amounting to P642,850.31 for checks drawn against insufficient funds.
“Through gross inexcusable negligence, she certified that funds are available in the municipality’s bank account when the bank balance was already insufficient to fund the checks issued by the municipality. Her neglectful act caused the bank to charge the municipality with penalties for checks “drawn against insufficient funds,” the resolution stated. (Sunnex)