Ombudsman suspends Cordova driver for two months

CEBU, Philippines- The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has suspended a government driver after he was found guilty of simple misconduct for allowing other people to use a government-owned vehicle.

The anti-graft office, upon the recommendation of graft investigator Mona Chica Gillamac, meted Ricky Amodia the penalty of two months suspension.

Amodia was assigned as driver of a Mitsubishi Canter with plate number SJT 454 owned by the municipal government of Cordova. The vehicle was caught during the operation conducted by the members of the Task Force Oplan Red Plate on August 11, 2012.

It was parked near a mall in Mandaue City and was found to have been used without a trip ticket. It was also discovered that the person driving the vehicle, Ramil Potot, was not authorized.

“Respondent, to whom the vehicle was officially assigned, is the person who is liable considering that it is his duty to safeguard the vehicle in his custody,” the decision read.

The administrative officer of Cordova, Annabelle Enriquez, also issued certification that the person caught driving the vehicle was not an employee of the municipality.

The anti-graft body said that allowing others to use the vehicle is a violation of Section 361 of the Government Accounting and Auditing Manual.

Gillamac has summoned Amodia to file his counter-affidavit but the latter ignored the summon, prompting the anti-graft office to resolve the case based on the evidence at hand. (FREEMAN)