Convicted Cebu mayor urges COA: Probe other public execs

CEBU CITY — Former Com—postela mayor Gilbert Wagas, who was convicted for malversation of public funds, has called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to also investigate other public officials who have unliquidated cash advances.

The Sandiganbayan sentenced Wagas to life imprisonment for malversation of public funds due to his failure to liquidate cash advances amounting to P376,000 when he was mayor of Compostela from 1988 to 1992.

Former Compostela treasurer Dominador Marivellas was also cited for technical malversation of public funds. Both former officials were ordered detained at the Quezon City jail.

Wagas said COA should not be selective and should also check other politicians who have unliquidated cash advances.

He said the cash advances he incurred were legitimate because they were supported by disbursement vouchers and an appropriation ordinance.

"This is too much. If I am the sacrificial lamb, let it be. Kon tinuod nga nangawat ko nganong mopirma man ko? Naa ba guy mangawat nga mopirma (If it was true that I stole government funds, why would I put my signature and incriminate myself? Thieves do not sign documents)," he said.

Wagas is not actually the only Cebu official who has unliquidated cash advances.

In Cebu City alone, former mayor Alvin Garcia has unsettled cash advances amounting to P541,741. Mayor Tomas Osmeña also has unliquidated cash advances of P228,145, which he incurred during his previous term as mayor.

Other employees of the Cebu City government, including those who are no longer in government service, also have unliquidated cash advances reaching millions of pesos.

Gov. Pablo Garcia has unliquidated cash advances of P62,000 which date back to 1995, while former governor Vicente de la Serna has unsettled cash advances of P296,000.

Even the late governor Osmundo Rama had unliquidated cash advances of P6,000.

Wagas said his lawyers are now preparing a motion for reconsideration to reduce his penalty.

In an interview over radio station dyLA, the former mayor said the Sandiganbayan decision shocked him because the sentence was too much for his case.

"My lawyers are now working on strategies to make the Sandiganbayan realize that it erred in deciding on the penalty for my case," he said in the dialect.

Wagas said he will exhaust all legal remedies to convince the anti-graft court to reduce his penalty.

He, however, said he is willing to face the consequences of his actions if the Sandiganbayan will ignore his plea. — Freeman News Service