By Czarina Nicole Ong
Former Lambunao Mayor Reynor Roncesvalles Gonzales has been slapped with two graft charges before the Sandiganbayan Third Division due to the reportedly anomalous use of his transportation allowance.
(Credits: Pixabay | Manila Bulletin)
In the charge sheets filed by assistant special prosecutor Jorge B. Espinal, Reynor was accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
In his other graft charge which was filed by graft investigation and prosecution officer
Eileen Lagat-Alde, he was accused alongside Vice Mayor Cesar Legarda Gonzales.
From January to December 2014, Reynor was accused of causing undue injury to the government when he received transportation allowance (TA) in the total amount of P90,000. From that amount, he partially refunded P40,400.
He claimed the money - P49,600 - even though he was already assigned a government vehicle for his official use, which is a violation of Local Budget Circular No. 103 dated May 15, 2013.
Meanwhile, Reynor also granted TA to Cesar for that same period in the total amount of P83,880 even though the vice mayor was also assigned a motor vehicle by the government for his official use.
The former mayor has to pay P60,000 for his provisional liberty, while the vice mayor has to pay P30,000.