2 ex-treasurers face malversation raps

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted the former barangay treasurer of Zapatera, Cebu City for malversation of public funds for alleged failure to produce missing funds.

Meanwhile, the former barangay treasurer of West Poblacion, Naga City, Cebu faces charges before the court for 34 counts of malversation of public funds through falsification of commercial documents.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Pio Dargantes recommended P40, 000 for the temporary liberty of accused Ma. Carissa Polotan of Zapatera.

In the complaint filed by the Commission on Audit (COA)-7, it alleged that Polotan had a cash shortage of P1,273,580.64 representing cash advances from January 1, 2007 to May 24, 2009.

The shortage was revealed after state auditor Francisca Jumao-as conducted an examination of the cash and accounts of the accused.

A demand letter was issued against the accused for the immediate production of the missing funds and to explain in writing the shortage but she failed to give an answer.

Finding sufficient evidence to proceed with the preliminary investigation, Dargantes directed the accused to file her counter-affidavit but failed.

“With the allegations in the complaint uncontroverted, probable cause is established that respondent has committed the felony of malversation of public funds under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code,” the resolution reads.

In a separate incident in southern Cebu, former barangay treasurer of West Poblacion, Naga City, Cebu faces charges before the court for 34 counts of malversation of public funds through falsification of commercial document.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer II Pio Dargantes elevated the case after accused Ma. Angelie Hamoy failed to submit her counter-affidavit.

“Nothing in the records will show that respondent complied with the said order dated June 22, 2007. With the allegations in the complaint uncontroverted, probable cause is established,” the resolution reads.

Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of the Office of the Ombudsman alleged that Flora Misa and Rolando Villarico, former elected officials of Barangay West Poblacion, lodged a complaint alleging anomalies on the disbursement of public funds in their barangay and implicated then barangay captain Pamela Sasan as respondent.

However, on October 18, 2005, Sasan filed a complaint and requested the Ombudsman for assistance citing her signature on barangay documents has been falsified by the accused.

State Auditor III Annabelle Arcadia Tantoy mentioned that there was shortage in the accountabilities of the accused amounting to P431,626.60.

In her affidavit, she stated that she conducted a cash examination on the cash accounts of accused on December 8, 2005 covering from January 1, 2005 to December 8. While in the course of her audit, Tantoy said she discovered that checks were issued and encashed out of the barangay funds amounting to P503,236.50 without supporting documents.

She added that sometime in January 2006, she was furnished a photocopy of the minutes of the regular session of the Sangguniang Barangay wherein Hamoy admitted that she forged the signature of Sasan in the numerous issuances of checks.

With that, Tantoy said a demand letter was sent to Hamoy to settle her accountabilities but she failed to answer. On June 22, 2007, Dargantes directed accused to file her counter-affidavit but she failed to submit one so he ruled to elevate the case to the court.

Documents reflected that accused issued a checks dated February 28, 2005 up to October 3, 2005 amounting to P503,236.50. (FREEMAN)