Dumanjug mayor sues VM again

CEBU, Philippines - With criminal charges against him still pending in court, Dumanjug Vice Mayor Efren Gica is facing another complaint, this time with his brother Erwin, a councilor of the town.

This was after Mayor Nelson Garcia filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas yesterday charges of malversation of public funds, falsification of public documents, and violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the Gicas.

The complaint stemmed from P80,000 in cash advance made by Erwin. The amount was allegedly spent as honorarium and allowance for “bogus” personnel of an “extensive drug operation” in the municipality.

Garcia said Erwin got the cash advance from the municipal treasurer last May 15 after it was approved by Efren, who was acting mayor that time following Garcia’s 60-day preventive suspension ordered by Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

Garcia said the brothers submitted on May 28 a liquidation report and a payroll showing that the amount was utilized as “honorarium and allowance” of personnel who conducted the drug operation.

A copy of the “payroll” attached in Garcia’s complaint listed three personnel allegedly from the Philippine National Police who received P10,000 each.

“Under the law, a government employee is prohibited from receiving any additional or double compensation,” Garcia said.

Apart from the “policemen,” there were also persons named Assets Zodiac-1 and 2 who likewise received P10, 000 each, while Assets Alpha-1, Alpha-2, Omega-1 and Omega-2 received P7, 500 each.

“There are no persons in Dumanjug whose names are Zodiac, Alpha and Omega. These are clearly bogus or fictitious entries,” Garcia said.

Sought for comment, Efren admitted giving money to the police officers, adding that he was no longer surprised that Garcia has filed a new complaint. Efren told The FREEMAN that he just entrusted to the amount to the policemen and that the money was really for their assets.

But Garcia also presented certifications signed by Municipal Treasurer Leticia Cabillon and Arnelle Famor of the town’s Human Resource Management Office showing that the persons identified in the payroll did not previously receivd any honoraria from the town and were not also employees of the municipality.

He likewise said that under the Local Government Code and Commission on Audit rules, Erwin was not authorized to secure a cash advance from the municipality except for traveling expenses.

Garcia was also planning to file a separate administrative case against the vice mayor and his brother before the Provincial Board this week. He is hoping that that the PB, which is dominated by allies of the Gicas, would act impartially over the complaint.

Garcia had earlier filed a complaint before the Ombudsman and the PB against Efren over the alleged tampering of a receipt for a dinner with some barangay officials of the town.  Garcia alleged that Efren changed the original amount reflected in the receipt from P11,435 to P21,435.—(FREEMAN)