DepEd exec indicted over unliquidated cash advances

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has recommended the filing of criminal charges in court against an official of the Department of Education in Liloan town for alleged failure to liquidate over P300,000 in cash advances.

 Graft investigation and prosecution officer Eleanor Tayad-de Mira found sufficient evidence to hold Felismina Pilapil for trial for three counts of violation of Article 218 (failure of accountable officer to render accounts) of the Revised Penal Code.

 Pilapil, officer-in-charge of DepEd Liloan District, failed to account for her cash advances in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

“Respondent’s failure to liquidate her cash advances for over seven years violates Section 89 of Presidential Decree 1445 which requires the liquidation of cash advance as soon as the purpose for which it was granted shall have been served and Commission on Audit Circular 97-002 which directs the liquidation of field operating expenses within 20 days after the end of the year,” the anti-graft body’s resolution reads.

 Based on the complaint filed by the Field Investigation Office (FIO) of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, Pilapil was granted cash advance in the amount of P299,187 in 2008. She allegedly made partial liquidation but could not account for P188,286.

 Despite her unliquidated cash advance, she was allowed to receive another amount in 2009 amounting to P154,764. Like in her previous cash advance, Pilapil again failed to account for P109,933.03.

In 2010, she again incurred P19,608 cash advance but failed to liquidate the P18,520. In three years, Pilapil has an accumulated unliquidated cash advances of P316,739.

Pilapilwas ordered to file her counter-affidavit but failed prompting the anti-graft office to resolve the case based on the evidence at hand.

 The Ombudsman, however, dismissed the complaint for malversation of public funds against Pilapil. (FREEMAN)