University nurse meted one-month suspension

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered the suspension of a female government nurse after she was found guilty of simple misconduct.

The anti-graft body meted Reafil Paelma the penalty of one-month suspension without pay for altering official receipt that she had herself reimbursed from Cebu Technological University in Danao City where she worked as university nurse.

 She was originally charged with conduct unbecoming a public official, dishonesty, and grave misconduct. However, graft investigator Mona Chica Gillamac downgraded the case to simple misconduct.

“In the present case, there is, however, no substantial evidence to show the presence of the additional elements to qualify respondent’s misconduct as grave. Thus, respondent is only guilty of simple misconduct,” the decision read.

 Gillamac directed the president of CTU to implement the suspension.

The case stemmed from Paelma’s going on an official business trip to Cebu City on September 1, 2014.

She was ordered to bring the water sample from the CTU-Danao City Campus to the University of San Carlos (USC)-Water Laboratory in Talamban, Cebu City for water analysis following the findings of Danao City Health Department that the university’s water supply is positive with e-coli bacteria.

 On October 15, 2014, she was paid P3,387.20 as reimbursement of her expenses which included the fee for the water analysis in the amount of P1,460.

However, it was found out that Paelma altered the receipt because the actual cost of water analysis is only P1,160.

In her counter-affidavit, Paelma claimed she was instructed by one of the staffers of the Administration Department to include in the receipt the other expenses she incurred using personal money for reimbursement.

Paelma approached bookkeeper Marlon Labong and asked how she would recover the expenses that were not covered with official receipts such as purchase of sterile bottle, transportation and others amounting to P300.

 She was allegedly advised to include the P300 in one of the receipted transactions.

 “It was in fact Labong who suggested to her to alter the words and figures of the subject receipt so that all her actual expenses would be covered,” the document read, adding despite Paelma’s reluctance she followed the advice of Labong.

Paelma alleged that when she received a copy of the complaint she went to ask Labong about it. It was when that she realized that she was allegedly framed up.

 Paelma claimed good faith when she altered the amount in the receipt. Labong, however, denied her claim. — (FREEMAN)