Surigao Mayor Indicted for Unliquidated Funds

The mayor of Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte faces criminal indictment for failing to liquidate cash advances he received from January 2004 to September 2011 amounting to P4.6 million.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales found probable cause to indict Mayor Cesar Diaz for Failure to Render Accounts as defined in Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), from a complaint filed by Commission on Audit (COA) State Auditor III Oscar Lerio.

The Resolution stated that on 18 January 2011, a demand letter was sent by the COA to Diaz for the liquidation and/or accounting of his cash advances totaling P5.2 million, out of which, Diaz was able to liquidate only P110,987.00.

It added that in April and September 2011, Diaz incurred additional cash advances from the Intelligence Fund amounting to P202,500.00 which were not liquidated within the prescribed period which prompted the COA to send another demand letter on 09 June 2012.

“[Diaz’] mere allegation that he has liquidated the other cash advances without anything to support it, cannot be accepted,” the Resolution stated.

Article 218 of the RPC penalizes accountable officer’s failure to render an account within a period of two months after such accounts should be rendered.

Source: www.ombudsman.gov.ph, PCOO