San Rem planning officer guilty of neglect of duty

CEBU, Philippines — The municipal planning and development coordinator of San Remegio was found guilty of an administrative case over unliquidated cash advances.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer III Michael Mernado, Jr. held Romarico Cabellon guilty of simple neglect of duty and meted a penalty of one month and one day suspension without pay.

"To emphasize, the law violated is a special law, thus, the mere fact that he received the government funds and failed to liquidate it, is the very offense penalize under Section 89 Presidential Decree 1445," stated the decision.

In 2016, the Field Investigation Office (FIO) filed a complaint against Cabellon before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for his alleged failure to liquidate his cash advances amounting to P89,101.59.

Based on the subsidiary ledgers and from the certification of the municipal accountant, it appears that these cash advances were granted to Cabellon in 2008.

In his reply-affidavit, Cabellon claimed that he was surprised upon learning about his unliquidated cash advances.

He blamed the defective recording or filing system in their municipality which caused the loss of his travel documents during the term of Mayor Jay Olivar.

With the foregoing facts, Mernado found Cabellon liable of simple neglect of duty for his unsettled cash advances.

As a government employee, he said Cabellon was required under Section 89 of the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines (PD 1445) to liquidate the cash advance he obtained as soon as the purpose for which it was given has been served.

"It is respondent's sole responsibility to liquidate whatever funds he received from the government. We cannot accept his alibi that his travel documents were lost due to the defective filing system of the municipality," read the decision.

Mernado added Cabellon did not present evidence to show that he had already liquidated his cash advances.

He also did not present proof of reimbursement or refund of the balance of his accountability. (FREEMAN)