3 Sultan Kudarat municipal execs sacked for P13M-fund misuse
A treasurer, an accountant and a budget officer in Sultan Kudarat were sacked from service for the irregular withdrawal of P13 million in public funds in 2010.
In a statement on Friday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal of municipal treasurer Francis Nadar, municipal accountant Zaida Apil, and municipal budget officer Pukog Makakua of the municipality of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat.
They were found guilty in the administrative offense of grave misconduct for their hand in processing an irregular disbursement of seven checks for the withdrawal of P13 million in public funds from April to June 2010.
“The issuance of the checks (were found) to be highly irregular,” Ombudsman Morales said in the decision.
The Ombudsman said they were charged for issuing seven checks worth P13 million payable to Nadar and drawn against the municipality’s checking account.
Ombudsman investigators found out that the disbursements did not represent any project or appropriation. The withdrawal of funds was also not supported with documents or records.
The Commission on Audit noted that the checks were not even submitted for post-audit.
Morales said to safeguard against irregular disbursement of funds, the officials should have ensured that the fund withdrawals were certified by the local budget officer as to the existence and validity of the appropriation.
The local accountant should have also certified the legal obligation incurred in the appropriation.
Lastly, the treasurer should have certified the availability of the funds, while the department head should have certified the validity, propriety and legality of the claim against the appropriation.
None of the respondents made the required certifications, Morales said.
“Respondents Nadar, Apil and Makakua should have complied with the documentary requirements and rendered their accounts in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Commission on Audit,” the Ombudsman said.
Beside the dismissal, the accused were also meted out with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from reemployment in the government service with forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of eligibility. CDG
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