Water district executive suspended for dishonesty

MANILA, Philippines –  The Office of the Ombudsman has suspended for six months an official of the San Pablo Water District in Laguna who was accused of dishonesty for availing herself of transportation allowance although she was using a vehicle of the agency.

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni, in an 11-page decision, said Teresita Rivera, a division manager of the San Pablo Water District, got transportation allowance for the months of November and December 2008 even if she was using a 2006 Toyota Hilux assigned to her.

In her counter-affidavit, Rivera claimed that the Hilux was assigned to a certain Renato Pullo and that no vehicle was set for her use.

However, investigation showed that the Hilux was issued to Pullo on Nov. 21, 2008 only.

“Simply put, for about 10 days in November 2008, the herein respondent had been using the subject vehicle, yet she still collected the amount corresponding to her transportation allowance,” Jalandoni said.

Rivera’s “inappropriate act,” according to Jalandoni, “should not be treated with leniency as the same involved the much needed resources of the government.”

Jalandoni directed Local Water Utilities Administration head Daniel Landingin to carry out Rivera’s six-month suspension.