Dismissed principal faces charges

CEBU, Philippines - The former principal of Talisay City Central School and now principal of Tangke Elementary School face charges before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) for malversation of public funds through falsification of official documents.

Graft investigator Jane Aguilar indicted Maria Luisa Ipong after she found sufficient evidence that she used P12, 600 for her personal interest.

Aguilar recommended P40,000 for Ipong's temporary liberty.

Ipong was ordered dismissed from service after she was found guilty of administrative case for dishonesty and falsification of official documents.

Ipong's benefits will be forfeited and is disqualified for re-employment in government service.

Graft investigator Aguilar directed Department of Education-7 Regional Director Recaredo Borgonia to implement the decision and requested him to submit a compliance report.

However, earlier Ipong submitted a motion for reconsideration to the decision of the anti-graft investigator Aguilar.

Ipong asked the Ombudsman to set aside and reverse the decision and to dismiss the instant case for lack of merit.

Advisers and the officers of the Talisay City Swimming and Life Saving Assoc., Incorporation are the complainants in the case.

The association helps to train the Talisay Swimming Team for competitions and coordinated with Ipong as the latter was also the Physical Education and School Sports Coordinator of the Talisay City Central School.

The complainants alleged that on April 2006, their swimmers joined the swimming competition as representatives to the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association held in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

They claimed Ipong told them no funds were allocated by the Talisay City government for swimsuits of the swimmers.

However, the complainants found out that Ipong asked and received from the Talisay City government reimbursement for the swimsuits and the swimming trunks that she allegedly purchased.

The complainants submitted copies of disbursement vouchers proving Ipong reimbursed and received P12,600.

However, in her counter-affidavit, Ipong said she did not process the documents for reimbursement.

She said she innocently received and signed a voucher for the check for P12,600 thought the check was for refund for the P22,000 she spent for taekwondo equipment used by the school's representatives to the same competition. — THE FREEMAN