Ex-market staff charged for not remitting P2.3M

CEBU, Philippines - Finding probable cause, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted a former collector of the Tabunok Public Market in Talisay City for a criminal case.

Graft investigation  and prosecution officer 1 Reynaldo Ejes found enough grounds to charge Libertad Juban before the court for malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.

“Juban, a public officer, being then a market collector/laborer II of the City of Talisay, Cebu, and as such in custody of public funds in the aggregate amount of P2,266,392.76, representing the amount undeclared and/or misdeclared of collections of stall rentals for calendar years 2007 to 2009, for which accused is accountable by reason of the duties of her office,” the charge sheet reads.

Ejes recommended P40,000 bail for Juban’s temporary liberty.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of the Office of the Ombudsman.

In its complaint, PACPO said that the case started with a letter-request to the Commission on Audit (COA)-7 from Melba Macapobre, audit team leader-Team 6 of Talisay City, requesting for a special team to conduct a “fraud audit” on the collection of market stall rentals at Tabunok Public Market.

On June 19, 2009, COA auditors Agnes Boie, Zenaida Garces and Ruby Lee Belandres examined Juban’s cash and accounts for alleged irregularities in the collection of market rentals.

The auditors found out that 620 official receipts for year 2007 to 2009, which Juban issued to various stallholders, appeared to be tampered by changing the payer’s name and the amount paid.

The Office of  the Ombudsman-Visayas has earlier found Juban guilty of administrative case for serious dishonesty for falsification.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer 1 Marie Fe Frances Seville-Ang said there was enough evidence to hold Juban liable for falsifying documents in order to conceal the unaccounted and unremitted collections close to P2.3 million.

“Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered finding respondent Juban guilty of serious dishonesty. She is hereby meted the penalty of dismissal from the service with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from re-employment  in the government service,” the decision reads.

PACPO found out that the respondent did not remit collections amounting to P2,266,392.76 to the Talisay City treasury, claiming such act was equivalent to dishonesty.

Juban, in her counter-affidavit, moved for the dismissal of the complaint, claiming that there was a deed of assignment entered into between her and then Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez that she would reimburse the amount.

In the said deed, the respondent made a partial payment of P150,000, leaving an unpaid balance of P2,116,392.76. —/NSA (FREEMAN)