Ex-Cebu town mayor fined over unliquidated cash advances

MANILA, Philippines — Former mayor Esteban Sia of Ronda, Cebu has been asked to return to the municipal government his unliquidated cash advances from 2007 to 2010 totaling P2.597 million.

In an 87-page decision promulgated on Oct. 23 and released yesterday, the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division said Sia was found guilty of failing to render accounts under Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code.

Citing Sia’s “willingness” to pay the amount, the court ordered him to pay a fine of P6,000.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2016, the case stemmed from Sia’s cash advances for official travel, intelligence fund and other office activities.

The ombudsman said the cash advances remain unliquidated despite repeated demands by the Commission on Audit (COA) and municipal government.

The court cited various audit observation memoranda from COA and letters from the municipal accountant sent to Sia’s office from 2008 to 2011 on his unliquidated cash advances.

“The accused cannot admit nor deny that he was able to render a liquidation of cash advances in issue. The overwhelming documentary exhibits of the prosecution lead this court to accept that indeed the accused failed to comply with his obligation as mandated by laws,” the Fifth Division said.

”All elements necessary to convict the accused of the crime charged are present and were proven by the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt,” the court said.