Compostela councilors ask Ombudsman: Do probe on P7 million municipal funds

CEBU, Philippines - The members of the municipal council of Compostela yesterday asked the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to look into the alleged unaccounted municipal funds amounting to more than P7 million.

Vice Mayor Joel Quiño and majority of the councilors went to the anti-graft office to formally ask Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol to also probe Mayor Ritchie Wagas for possible liability because of his failure to relieve the municipal treasurer despite the recommendation from a state auditor.

Quiño said that municipal treasurer, Lorenzo Almodiel, continues to occupy his position despite the recommendation made by state auditor Barbara Ann Aloba to relieve him last year.

Aloba, team leader of the Cluster IV-Visayas, Local Government Sector, found out that Almodiel incurred a cash shortage of P7,574,011.60 during their cash examination covering the period October 8, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

Aloba recommended for the relief of Almodiel and the conduct of the investigation.

However, Wagas reportedly failed to heed the recommendation and the order from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre was ordered by the Bureau of Local Government Finance on August 15, 2008 to confer with the municipal government of Compostela for the immediate relief of Almodiel and the conduct of an investigation.

Salubre, on September 16, 2008, endorsed the BLGF order to Wagas for his action, but the mayor failed prompting the provincial treasurer to make a tracer letter on November 10, 2008 reiterating the immediate relief of Almodiel.

On January 6, 2009, Wagas submitted three names to Salubre as possible replacements of Almodiel. However, of the three, only one was qualified.

In his letter, Salubre said Wagas need to make a formal recommendation for the designation of the qualified candidate, but the mayor reportedly failed.

Last month Salubre sent another follow-up letter to Wagas asking for the formal recommendation of Almodiel’s replacement.

“In as much as our office has been tasked months ago to implement the COA order, we have been trying our very best to resolve this matter as quietly and promptly as we can,” Salubre said in his letter dated June 8.

Quiño said that Wagas’ refusal to implement the COA order despite the lapse of several months, prompted them to seek the help of the anti-graft body. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)