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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Negros town treasurer charged, suspended for 'missing' P6.4 M cash, checks

Negros town treasurer charged, suspended for 'missing' P6.4 M cash, checks

Published Feb 26, 2023 01:09 am
BACOLOD CITY - A former treasurer in the municipality of Isabela, Negros Occidental was suspended for 60 days after she was charged administratively allegedly for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, and malversation of public funds. Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson issued the preventive suspension on Feb. 22 against Nenette Escarda, who is currently assigned as cashier 1 at the Provincial Capitol here. Provincial legal officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. said in a media interview that Escarda received the letter on Feb. 23. Last month, Escarda reported to the police here that P3 million worth of cash and checks from the Treasurer’s Office of Isabela town were allegedly robbed from her house here. However, based on the investigation of the provincial government, it indicated that Escarda, who was the acting municipal treasurer at that time, took the municipal funds of Isabela amounting to P2.6 million in cash and P3.8 million in checks without the authority of Mayor Irene Montilla. Nellas said that Escarda admitted bringing home the town’s funds and that she acted on her own, based on the evidence submitted. Nellas said that Escarda alleged that the officer-in-charge assigned to deposit the funds was preoccupied with other duties at that time. Aside from that, the Commission on Audit (COA) also conducted a cash examination on Escarda and found some irregularities in her cash accountability. Based on an audit report, P972,000 in cash advances remained liquidated beyond the cut-off time and P6.6 million in collections were not deposited. Nellas said that Montilla cannot be held liable for Escarda’s actions, since the mayor never issued an authority on her and that the latter acted on her own accord. Nellas said that if the evidence warrants, Montilla has an option to file criminal charges against Escarda. In a memorandum order, Lacson also directed Escarda to refrain from entering the premises of the Provincial Capitol here and any of its offices to avoid embarrassment or any untoward incident during the duration of her suspension, or from doing any act that may influence the witnesses and the proceeding. Lacson stressed that this is to give due course to a fair and impartial investigation and hearing of her administrative case.
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