Ex-Zambo del Sur mayor to face charges for P1.25M unliquidated funds

The Office of the Ombudsman has approved the filing of a case against former Zamboanga Del Sur Mayor Wilson Nandang for alleged failure to liquidate funds amounting to P1.25 million.

Nandang is facing charges of 10 counts each for violating Articles 217 (Malversation of Public Funds) and 218 (Failure of Accountable Officer to Render Accounts) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

According to a statement from the Ombudsman, Nandang received 10 cash advances for travel expenses from January to August of 2011.

The Ombudsman said cash advances for domestic travels must be liquidated within 30 days upon the return to official station, under Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 97-002.

Article 217 of the RPC states that malversation is committed by a public officer who is accountable for public funds or property, by reason of duties of office, and appropriates the same or misappropriates public funds or properties, wholly or partially.

Meanwhile, violation of Article 218 of the RPC is committed by a public officer, whether in service or therefrom by resignation or any other cause, who, required by law or regulation to render account to the provincial auditor and fails to do as such two months after accounts are meant to be rendered. Daphnie Beltran/INQUIRER.net intern /muf