Ex-Bohol mayor found guilty in falsification case

MANILA, Philippines – A former mayor of a town in Bohol has been found guilty of serious dishonesty and grave misconduct for falsifying her travel and training documents in 2010.

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits of former Cortes mayor Apolinaria Balistoy.

Since Balistoy is no longer in government, the ombudsman said her dismissal from government service is convertible to a fine equivalent to her salary for one year.

Investigation showed Balistoy obtained fraudulent certificates of attendance for four training modules, which she used to reimburse travel and training expenses amounting to P155,789.

The ombudsman field investigation office presented documents that Balistoy attended meetings in the provinces and not in Metro Manila.

No travel authorities were issued for Balistoy to attend the trainings, ombudsman probers added.

The Commission on Audit said the reimbursement of expenses for seminars and trainings were irregular.