Capitol accountant faces multiple raps

CEBU, Philippines — Former Capitol consultant Byron Garcia has filed multiple criminal charges against Provincial Accountant Ramon Dumayac Jr. before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Garcia filed 11 counts of violations of Section 7 of Republic Act 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and 11 counts of violations of Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 otherwise known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for Dumayac’s failure to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) from 2004 to 2015.

Garcia also filed charges against Dumayac for failure to disclose or material misrepresentation of his actual and real business interest and financial connections in the 2016 SALN.

Garcia alleged that Dumayac has made it appear that he has no business interest or financial connection despite of the fact that in 2016 until today, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Cebu CFI Community Cooperative, and also a BOD of Cooperative Bank of Cebu, a private banking institution.

Garcia’s father, former governor and congressman Pablo Garcia, took over as chairman of the BOD of CFI and Cooperative Bank of Cebu after the death of his wife, late retired judge Esperanza “Inday” Garcia, the founding chairman of CFI.

He also alleged that Dumayac failed to disclose in the 2016 SALN his investment or his share capital of not less than P1 million with CFI to qualify him to become a BOD of CFI.

“I am also filing the corresponding administrative cases for grave misconduct, abuse of authority, dishonesty, conduct unbecoming of public official and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service against the above-mentioned government official,” Garcia said in his letter complaint dated April 11, 2018 filed last Friday.

Garcia also pointed out that there exists a conflict of interest in the performance of Dumayac as the provincial accountant and a member of the BOD of CFI.  Sometime in 1987, the CFI and the Province of Cebu entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that loan payments of the coop members that are also employees of the Province of Cebu shall be done through salary deductions.

Garcia said that one of the signatories of the voucher to be issued by the Province of Cebu for the purpose of the loan payments through salary deduction based on the said MOA, payable to CFI, is Dumayac.

“Aside from the criminal liabilities, he should also be held administratively liable thereof and it shall be sufficient cause for his removal or dismissal from service,” added Garcia.

Dumayac refused to give comments saying that he has not yet received copy of the complaints filed against him. (FREEMAN)