Nueva Ecija mayor held liable for P21.9 million fire damage
MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Arvin Salonga of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija has been found liable for P21.99 million in damage caused by a fire that hit the municipal building in June 2013.
In a decision dated May 30 last year, but uploaded on the website of the Commission on Audit only recently, the COA proper denied Salonga’s request for relief from property accountability.
“Mayor Salonga is liable as the chief executive for his negligence to insure the property during his term,” the decision read.
The COA also noted that Salonga filed his request for relief of accountability on July 21, 2016, more than three years since the fire occurred.
“He had 22 days left to file the notice of loss prior to the end of his term as mayor on June 30, 2013,” the COA said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection filed a complaint of arson against Salonga before the Office of the Ombudsman on Sept. 11, 2013. The complaint was dismissed in July 2015 due to lack of evidence.
While Salonga was cleared of the criminal complaint, the audit body said it does not extinguish his civil liability for the losses incurred by the municipal government.
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