THE Office of the Ombudsman affirmed on Monday the charges leveled against former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) undersecretary Mario Roño for violation of Article 218 (Failure to Render Account) of the Revised Penal Code for his failure to account for cash advances totaling P97,954.67.
The funds were part of his travel expenses to China and Sweden in December 1999 and May 2000, respectively.
Investigation revealed that Roño was able to fully account for the travel expenses to China only in April 2014, or 14 years after the prescribed period had elapsed, and that P79,738 had remained outstanding representing his travel expenses to Sweden.
Jerry Benedect Rosete, information officer of the Ombudsman, said that under Commission on Audit Circular 96-004, cash advances for travel shall be liquidated by the official concerned strictly within 60 days after his return to the Philippines. (Sunnex)