Sibugay execs, employees face raps

MANILA, Philippines - Thirteen former and incumbent officials and employees of the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial government will be indicted for graft and malversation of public funds.

The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday said Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Leonardo Lagas, George Castillo and Galwas Musa as well as provincial employees Lourdes Pontanar, Ruel Alpas, Flordeliza Triambulo, Noel Sigasig, Fe Pontanar, Jonnie Garnica, Rex Tago, Richelle Tan, Rafael Querubin and Arnel Pague face charges for allegedly falsifiying documents to claim reimbursements for the Aid to the Poor program of the province in 2001.

The Commission on Audit said Castillo, Lagas and Musa prepared and approved disbursement vouchers amounting to P95,099.  

State auditors said the supposed beneficiaries could not be located.

“The respondents…appropriated the fund intended as aid for the poor, which sufficiently manifests the existence of evident bad faith,” the anti-graft court said. 

They conspired to misuse the funds in violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, it added.