Ex-Bohol mayor, treasurer face malverse raps

MANILA, Philippines - Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has directed the filing of cases for malversation of public funds against a former mayor and treasurer of San Miguel town in Bohol.

Morales ordered six counts of malversation filed against former mayor Silvino Evangelista before the Sandiganbayan, and eight counts against former municipal treasurer Trinidad Millare before the Bohol regional trial court.

In an 11-page decision, Morales said graft investigators were able to establish that from September 1998 to June 2000, six checks amounting to P553,148 were issued by the San Miguel municipal government without proper documentation and disbursement vouchers.  

Morales said Evangelista was liable for “gross negligence to exercise the due diligence of a good father of a family over the subject funds by allowing Millare to misappropriate and misuse the (funds).” 

Graft probers also found that Millare failed to account for P653,148 in local funds, as established by state auditors. 

In the preliminary investigation, Millare admitted that prior to her retirement, she incurred monetary obligations in her capacity as municipal treasurer and that she promised to settle these within six months, but failed as she managed to pay only P6,148. – With Lalaine Jimenea