Ex-Capitol paymaster gets 20 years imprisonment for malversation

CEBU, Philippines – A former Capitol paymaster was sentenced to suffer a maximum of 20 years imprisonment after she was found guilty of malversation of government funds amounting to more than P1 million 16 years ago.

Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Bienvenido Saniel convicted Rebecca delos Reyes yesterday of malversation of public funds after more than a decade trial. 

Saniel found her guilty of embezzling P1,170,695 government funds in 1994. The amount was part of the P2,027,132 that the provincial government has entrusted to her being a cash disbursing officer.

On top of the 10 to 20 years imprisonment, Saniel also ordered delos Reyes to pay the unliquidated amount.

The case stemmed from delos Reyes' alleged failure to account for the amount entrusted to her as one of the Capitol paymaster in 1994.

Delos Reyes was in possession of the more than P2 million as cash disbursing officer. However, she could not account for the bulk of the funds.

The Commission on Audit demanded for her to liquidate the amount but despite the demands delos Reyes failed. Instead of complying with the orders for her to submit the liquidation documents, delos Reyes instead went on awol.

According to Saniel, the evidence showed that the accused could only liquidate P856,436 out of the more than P2 million in her possession.

"Taking into consideration, her evidence was lamentably weak and insufficient. In sum, the accused failed to overturn the presumption of malversation set in Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code," Saniel ruled.

The court also noted the testimony of Atty. Socrates Maderazo of COA who claimed that the accused did not submit any explanation when required after the discrepancy was found out in her liquidation.

Maderazo testified in court that instead of explaining the discrepancy, delos Reyes went on awol. Then provincial treasurer Cesar Resentes was also presented by the prosecution as witness against delos Reyes.

According to Resentes, delos Reyes was reminded sometime in 1995 to liquidate her cash advances. But, the accused allegedly cease from reporting to work. (FREEMAN)