News Briefs: Sept. 24, 2018
Zamboanga City accountant gets 51 years for expense padding
The Sandiganbayan has convicted Zamboanga City accountant Sylvia Binarao of multiple charges for trebling her travel expenses and allegedly pocketing P24,970.
The court’s Special Third Division sentenced Binarao to 23 years and five days to a maximum of 51 years, 10 months and 25 days, and a fine of P113,970.
In a 61-page decision dated Aug. 24, Binarao was found guilty of two counts each of graft, malversation and falsification and one count of estafa through falsification.
Prosecutors accused Binarao of altering the receipts for her travel expenses in Cagayan de Oro City, Roxas City and Manila in November and December 2001 and May 2002.
The receipts she presented showed she paid P37,514, but the true amounts actually totaled P12,544. —Vince F. Nonato
Rotary Club to launch new peace awards
The Rotary Club will launch on Sept. 24 Gawad Akap to recognize and honor peace advocates and those active in the pursuit of peace at the Ramon Magsaysay Center on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
The formal awarding ceremony will be held in February 2019.
The launch of Gawad Akap will feature a forum on the peace process between the Duterte administration and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, chief government negotiator, will report on achievements made in the talks.
