CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered the dismissal from service of a municipal employee who was found guilty of dishonesty.
Robert Cortes, administrative aide of the municipality of Sibonga, was proven guilty of mishandling his collections and tampering with 347 official receipts issued to tax payers and stallholders.
Graft investigation and prosecution officer Vivien Leigh Santiago-Lumangtad recommended that aside from dismissal from service, Cortes should also be meted with the accessory penalties such as forfeiture of benefits and perpetual disqualification of holding public office.
The anti-graft office, however, exonerated municipal treasurer Desideria Retes and municipal accountant Cheryl Rellin-Abreu who were charged together with Cortes.
The graft investigator found no sufficient evidence against Retes and Abreu.
The case stemmed from the audit report of the Commission on Audit on July 4, 2012. COA found out that Cortes mishandled his collections and tampered with 347 receipts representing payments for real property taxes, business taxes, and rental of market stalls resulting in the loss of P1,288,366.30 government funds.— (FREEMAN)