PDEA collecting officer faces malverse raps

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has filed a criminal case against one of its cash collecting officers who has not reported for work since her alleged failure to account for missing funds amounting to at least P311,000 was discovered.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. said cash collecting officer Arthea Ruth Santiago was assigned by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to collect payments from people securing PDEA licenses and permits in Central Luzon.

Records show that in March 2011, 10 booklets of DDB official receipts (ORs) were initially issued to Santiago, but she failed to complete all reportorial requirements needed for the issuance of replenishment receipts. She was ordered to comply but failed to do so.

Since then, Santiago stopped reporting for work after her maternity leave lapsed on Oct. 30, 2012. A memorandum of explanation and return-to-work orders were then issued to her but she ignored these.

Out of the 500 ORs issued to her, only 223 were reported to the DDB and deposited to the Bureau of Treasury, leaving 227 ORs unaccounted for, investigation showed. At least 50 ORs amounting to P55,000 were recovered in her file cabinet.

Citing findings by PDEA’s Internal Affairs Service, Cacdac said Santiago failed to report a total of P311,000, excluding 14 still unaccounted receipts.