Owwa-Visayas director suspended

CEBU CITY—The Deputy Ombudsman in the Visayas ordered the nine-month suspension of Overseas Workers Welfare Association in Central Visayas (Owwa-7) director for making the office janitress do household chores and using the office vehicle to fetch her from her house to the office.

Wilfreda Misterio, Owwa-7 director II, was found guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

She was also held liable for pulling out office supplies such as batteries, alcohol and tissue paper for her personal and family use as well as for claiming meal reimbursement for someone who didn’t attend a meeting.

The Owwa administrator was directed to implement the suspension order against Misterio and to submit a compliance report to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Aside from her administrative liabilities, Misterio is also facing trial on charges of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

In her counter-affidavit, Misterio said a security logbook was not an official record but merely an “unverified and unofficial” note by the guard.

She said the Owwa vehicle was used in all official businesses.

Misterio admitted bringing the Owwa janitress to her house. While the janitress cleaned as well as brought out and sorted files in her house, she said these were all related to her job in Owwa.

She said the janitress also washed dishes in her house maybe because the latter was “used to it.” She denied using office resources and supplies for personal use.

She added it was an “honest and inadvertent mistake” when she claimed meal reimbursement for Dineza Espejo even if the latter was not a participant of an event.

Misterio said the complaint against her should have been referred to the Owwa since the Ombudsman had no jurisdiction over it.

While it is true that Owwa has jurisdiction over her, the Ombudsman said it has disciplinary authority over all elective and appointive official of the government.

In her decision, graft investigation and prosecution officer Carmelle Baybay-Suson said both the testimony of the Owwa driver and entries of their security logbook proved that Misterio used government vehicle from her house to the office.

Any government-issued vehicle, the antigraft investigator said, should be used solely for official business and not for personal use.

Suson also gave credence to the testimony of the Owwa janitress.

Instead of offering a clear defense on this matter, Suson said the respondent posed an “absurd argument.”

“The office cannot help but inquire. Is the office janitress her personal assistant who would sort out her files in her house and wash dishes because she is allegedly used to it in the office?” the Ombudsman investigator said.

Suson said Misterio didn’t rectify her mistake when she claimed meal reimbursement for Espejo.

“Her act of getting office supplies such as batteries, rubbing alcohol, tissue papers and a gallon of alkaline during weekends clearly tarnishes the image and integrity of her public office and is something that this office cannot tolerate,” said Suson whose ruling was approved by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente.