Gov’t execs, employees warned on unliquidated cash advances

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Service Commission (CSC) issued a stern warning yesterday to government officials and employees with unliquidated cash advances.

‘Liquidate cash advances or risk dismissal from service,” CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III warned.

Failure to liquidate cash advances within the prescribed period is a violation of policy guidelines and implies omission or refusal of the official or employee concerned to perform legal duties, the CSC said.

Duque said such gross neglect of duty is penalized with dismissal from service with accessory penalties of forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of civil service eligibility and prohibition from taking civil service exams.

The CSC announced that it ordered the dismissal of Mark Benedick Isabelo from government service last year after he was found guilty of failing to liquidate cash advances amounting to P114,064.45.

According to the Commission on Audit (COA)’s Statement of Cash Advances and Liquidations as of Dec. 31, 2008, Isabelo, a former private secretary at PTV4 Office of the General Manager, was granted P75,000 to defray expenses for the purchase of materials, furniture and fixtures for the renovation of the general manager’s office and conference room, while P39,064.45 was granted to defray expenses for the adjustment of travel itinerary of the PTV4 chief to the United States.

COA sent him a final demand letter on Aug. 14, 2008 to settle his accountabilities, to which he failed to reply within 30 days.

On Sept. 18, 2009, the CSC directed Isabelo to submit his counter-affidavit and he again failed to do so, prompting the CSC to formally charge him for gross neglect of duty.