Sandigan allows MWSS exec’s European trip

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has granted the request of Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) manager Estellito Polloso to leave the country for 17 days despite being on trial for the anomalous release of P79.56 million in cash advances.

In a minute resolution promulgated on Oct. 2, the court’s Fifth Division granted Polloso’s motion to travel to Italy, Portugal, Spain and France from Oct. 6 to 22 despite the objection of state prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Considering that the right to travel is a constitutional right which cannot be impaired except in cases provided for by law, the instant motion of accused Polloso is hereby granted subject to the usual terms and conditions,” the Fifth Division’s ruling read.

In his motion filed on Sept. 25, Polloso said he intended to go to Italy, Portugal, Spain and France for a Marian pilgrimage with his wife Liza. 

Polloso is facing three counts of falsification of public documents. Filed by the ombudsman in April, the charges stemmed from the release of cash advances totaling P79.56 million allegedly used for illegal grant of allowances and bonuses to a Commission on Audit team assigned to the MWSS.

The ombudsman said Polloso and his seven co-accused MWSS officials conspired with one another in falsifying 10 journal entry vouchers from 2006 to 2008 in order to conceal the irregularity of the release of cash advances.

The ombudsman said the released fund was not declared in the journal entry vouchers as cash advances but rather as “prior year adjustments” for the supposed payment of prior years’ cost-of-living allowance and maintenance and other operating expenses.

In a resolution promulgated on Aug. 15, the Fifth Division dismissed the charges, citing the ombudsman’s “inordinate delay” in its investigation.

The court said the prosecution failed to justify why it took the ombudsman more than seven years to finish its investigation before filing the cases with the Sandiganbayan.

On Aug. 31, the ombudsman’s prosecution team filed a motion for reconsideration, which remains pending before the Fifth Division.