Malversation filed against Fortuna

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna is accused of malversation of public funds before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for allegedly collecting transportation allowance from the city government even if he was issued a service vehicle.

Banilad barangay captain Glenn Bercede filed the complaint yesterday afternoon before the anti-graft office. Bercede said he found out that Fortuna collected transportation allowances for the months of July and August amounting to P13,400 despite having a service vehicle issued by the city government.

He claimed to have found the anomalous practice when he scrutinized the records and the transactions of the city officials following the alleged delay in the implementation of the development projects in Mandaue City because of the difficulty in getting the approval from the opposition-dominated City Council.

Bercede said that as a member of the city development council he was bothered by the “tremendous delay in the implementation of the project such as road asphalting, construction of school buildings, and recently the purchase of garbage trucks and other equipment in consonance with the implementation of the solid waste management program of the administration.

He said that the members of the city council made it difficult for these projects to be realized in the “guise of check and balance” and that they wanted to protect the coffers of the government from being wasted.

However, while the members of the council are using this as an excuse to block the projects, Fortuna is allegedly committing malversation of funds.

Bercede attached in his complaint a memorandum receipt of the vehicle which showed that a Starex was issued to Fortuna. A payroll showing that Fortuna collected transportation allowance despite having a service vehicle was also attached in the complaint.

He said that Fortuna could not claim ignorance of the existing local budget circular as well as the existing laws that prohibit public officials from claiming transportation allowance when a service vehicle is assigned to him.

Fortuna described the complaint as “very petty”, saying he is willing to answer the complaint before the anti-graft office. According to him, the government was not prejudiced with his having the vehicle and collecting transportation at the same time because the city government did not spend for the gasoline.– Fred P. Languido/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)