Ex-town treasurer indicted for graft

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted a retired municipal treasurer of Bantayan for allegedly misappropriating over P6 million in public funds.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Eleanor Tayad-De Mira has found probable cause to charge Charlita Sequino in court for malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 “Respondent acting in her official function as the municipal treasurer, acted in evident bad faith when she converted the funds of the municipality to her own personal benefit and caused undue injury to the government in the amount misappropriated,” the indictment read.

 Mayor Christopher Ian Escario filed the complaint after discovering that Sequino failed to remit a total amount of 6,103,246.12 in government funds from November 2011 to April 2013.

A demand letter was sent to Sequino to explain and to produce the amount. Sequino admitted having borrowed about P1.5 million and the rest of the amount was allegedly given as cash advance to some municipal employees.

Sequino retired from the service on September 2, 2013.  She alleged went on official leave from March 15, 2013 to June 30, 2013. (FREEMAN)