Bukidnon in southern Philippines. GOOGLE MAPS
A former mayor from Bukidnon was convicted of technical malversation and illegal use of public funds for diverting funds meant for a festival to the construction of a function hall.
The Sandiganbayan has found former Kibawe mayor Luciano Ligan guilty of diverting funds appropriated by the Sanggunian for tourism activities and the Kaamulan festival to the construction of a tourism function hall.
Also convicted were municipal treasurer Ma. Asuncion Codilla, budget officer Narciso Chaves, Jr. and accountant Ellen Piquero.
They were found liable for violating Article 220 of the Revised Penal Code, which penalizes public officers who shall apply any public fund or property under his or her administration to any public use other than for which such fund or property were appropriated by law or ordinance.
According to the decision cited in an Ombudsman statement, the court found no merit in Ligan’s attempt to link the construction of the tourism municipal hall to tourism activities.
“(The court was) not persuaded by the accused’s strained attempts to link the construction with tourism activities,” the Sandiganbayan said.
The court also explained that it “fails to see the slightest connection between the promotion of tourism/participation in the Kaamulan Festival with the construction of the Tourism Function Hall.”
“Kaamulan” means “to gather” and involves the getting together of Bukidnon tribes people for a purpose, according to the official website of the province.
The court said the mere availability of the funds as savings does not mean these can be used for other purposes for which these were appropriated.