Ex-Zamboanga del Sur governor charged with malversation
Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Cerilles. https://www.congress.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines—Former Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Aurora Cerilles has been charged with malversation of public funds in the Sandiganbayan for alleged illegal disbursement of the provincial funds amounting to P483,840 in 2005.
The information filed by the Office of the Ombudsman said that Cerilles, then Zamboanga del Sur governor, paid the amount in check to Baganian Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), thereby allowing the latter to take, misappropriate and embezzle the money for its personal use and benefit to prejudice of the province.
It said Cerilles “did then and there with great carelessness and unjustifiable negligence, willfully, unlawfully and feloniously pay or cause the payment of these public funds to BBC despite knowledge of the illegality of the transaction that was entered between the provincial government and the BBC.”
The information did not specify the details of the transaction which it said violated Republic Act 9184 or Government Procurement Act, and that as governor, Cerilles was accountable, committing the offense in relation to office and while in the discharge of her official duties.
Assistant Special Prosecutor III Karen Funelas said preliminary investigaion showed there was sufficient ground to believe that the crime charged had been committed.
The indictment was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
The Ombudsman recommended bail of P40,000.
Meanwhile, Mariano Martinez, a former general manager of the Cebu Port Authority, was charged with qualified theft by the Office of the Ombudsman for stealing paving blocks owned by the port authority in December 2003.
The complaint said the accused took advantage of his position by allegedly stealing paving blocks owned by CPA worth P28,000 which were stored at the Cebu International Port CIP Complex.
The paving blocks were use for the driveway of his resthouse in Barangay Tabunan, Cebu City, to the prejudice of the government.
The Ombudsman recommended bail of P40,000.
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