Explain missing P32-million funds

MANILA, Philippines - Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad is asking Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto and eight city councilors to account for P32 million reportedly missing from the city’s coffers.

He said an accounting report by Office of the Mayor showed that P32.30 million is missing. The amount is part of the funds the city government receives from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) for hosting its casinos.

He said Calixto and Councilors Arnel Regino Arceo, Richard Advincula, Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Ian Vendivel, Luisa Petallo, Reynaldo Padua, Marlon Pesebre and Maria Antonia Cuneta should explain where the money went or return it.

Trinidad said for many years, Pasay City has been receiving PAGCOR funds, deposited into two separate accounts.

Each month, the Office of the Mayor receives around P2.5 million and the city council receives P1.6 million – divided into P200,000 for the vice mayor, and P100,000 for each councilor.

Trinidad said that since February 2008, the city council’s share was diverted to the Asenso Manileño Foundation by virtue of a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod. The foundation is said to be a civic organization based in Manila.

“All PAGCOR funds you released after January 2008 did not get approval from my office, and therefore violate the rules. Even if the funds were forwarded to the foundation, still there must be joint approval,” he said.

Advincula, however, said Trinidad knows where the funds in question were used.

“In fact, we have a copy of the document (the mayor) signed. It is better if the mayor reviews all the papers, documents he has been signing. He has a tendency now to be forgetful because of his age,” he said. Trinidad is in his 70s.

Advincula also said that apart from the Asenso Manileño Foundation, other groups that benefited from the funds are the Pasayeña Foundation, which Trinidad’s wife, Nelfa, chairs; and the Metro Business Computer Foundation.

Calixto cannot be reached for comment.