Court orders ex-AFP officer’s arrest for pocketing P1.4 M

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City court has ordered the arrest of a former disbursing officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused of pocketing P1.4 million of the agency’s funds for the “Balik-Baril” program.

Judge Maria Filomena Singh of the Regional Trial Court Branch 85 issued a warrant for Major Christopher Lee Patindol’s arrest. Patindol was a former special disbursing officer of then Commodore and now Vice Admiral Miguel Jose Rodriguez, deputy chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations (CMO).

Patindol – who has been absent without leave (AWOL) since Aug. 1, 2011 – is facing three counts of malversation of public funds for allegedly falsifying the signature of Rodriguez to encash three checks on July 4, 5 and 8, 2011.

Prosecutor Kathryn Rose Baliatan of the Office of the Ombudsman earlier found prima facie evidence to file the case against the former military officer.

“In falsifying the subject checks, respondent was able to withdraw the Balik-Baril program funds and appropriate the same for his personal use, to the damage and prejudice of the government,” Baliatan said.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Lt. Cmdr. Arnold Marie Obra, then acting chief of the CMO administrative division. 

Obra said they learned of the incident after looking into the bank records of the “Balik-Baril” program.

Prior to the filing of the case, Rodriguez ordered the respondent to produce the office cash book in order for him to examine their documents and transactions.

Patindol failed to comply with the order. He also failed to appear during the preliminary investigation of the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Another case was filed against Patindol for allegedly misappropriating more than P900,000 of STRATCOM funds. Baliatan, however, said there was no evidence to establish the allegations against the accused.