Surigao town mayor faces raps over P4.6-M advances

MANILA, Philippines - For allegedly failing to liquidate cash advances amounting to P4.6 million, the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday ordered the filing of criminal charges against a town mayor of Surigao del Norte.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Taganaan Mayor Cesar Diaz would be indicted for violating Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code.

The charges against Diaz stemmed from a complaint filed by Oscar Lerio of the Commission on Audit (COA), who said the mayor failed to liquidate the cash advances he received from January 2004 to September 2011.

The ombudsman said that on Jan. 18, 2011, a demand letter was sent to Diaz to liquidate and account for his cash advances amounting to P5.2 million.

Of the amount, the mayor was able to liquidate only P110,987.  

In April and September 2011, the mayor allegedly incurred additional cash advances from the municipal government’s intelligence fund amounting to P202,500.

The respondent reportedly failed again to liquidate the amount within the prescribed period, prompting COA to send another demand letter on June 9, 2012.

Graft investigators said Diaz claimed he had liquidated the amount but failed to show proof.