Ex-soldier in P1.4-M malversation case still at large

MANILA, Philippines - A former disbursment officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who allegedly pocketed P1.4 million of the agency’s funds for the “Balik-Baril Program” remains missing more than six months after a malversation case was filed against him.

Major Christopher Lee Patindol has yet to be arrested by authorities and that the case against him may soon be archived, according to an employee at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85.

In April, Judge Maria Filomena Singh issued an arrest warrant for Patindol, a former special disbursing officer of then Commodore and now retired Rear Admiral Miguel Jose Rodriguez, the deputy chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations at the time.

Patindol – who has been absent without leave since Aug. 1, 2011 – is facing three counts of malversation of public funds for allegedly falsifying the signature of Rodriguez to encash three checks on July 4, 5 and 8, 2011.