Worker suspended for a month over cash advance fiasco

CEBU, Philippines - An employee of the municipal government of Poor in Camotes Island is facing a month of suspension over delayed settlement of his cash advances amounting to P17,294 in 2008.

This after the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas found Teofil Zurita, the town's meter reader, liable for simple neglect of duty.

"Verily, respondent's failure to liquidate his cash advances within the period required by rules and for settling the unliquidated amount beyond said period is a clear display of carelessness and failure to give proper attention to the task expected of him," said Eleanor Tayad-de Mira, graft investigation and prosecution officer, in her resolution.

The case came after the findings of the Ombudsman's Field Investigation Office that Zurita received cash advances worth P40,000 on April 16, 2008 intended for renewal of registration of the town's vehicle.

Zurita allegedly paid only P22,702 in December 2008 and paid the remaining amount only on November 11, 2015.

The anti-graft office explained that the delayed liquidation of cash advances violates Section 8 of Presidential Decree 1445 (The Government Auditing Code of the Philippines) and the Commission on Audit Circular 97-002.

In her counter-affidavit affidavit, Zurita admitted receiving P40,000 but explained that he was able to settle the remaining amount of P17,294 only in November 2015 due to "series of misfortunes."

His father reportedly suffered a mild stroke and needed medication and his wife reportedly got sick due to incessant bleeding and had to undergo an operation.

Their house was reportedly damaged by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

He said he was able to settle the balance only last year after he took a loan from a lending firm.

Despite this, the Ombudsman said Zurita still violated the law.

The anti-graft office, nevertheless, took into consideration Zurita's untainted record in government service, thus, penalizing him only for simple neglect of duty. (FREEMAN)