Ex-Sorsogon municipal mayor, two others face raps over alleged fund irregularities

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has ordered the filing of malversation of public funds charges against former Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon Mayor Alejandro Gamos, his municipal treasurer and accountant for alleged irregularities in the cash advances and disbursement of funds.

 

In a press statement Thursday, Morales ordered the filing of two counts of malversation against Gamos and municipal treasurer Virginia Laco.

 

Municipal Accountant Roselyn Gile, on the other hand, faces one count of malversation.

 

The cases are based on the special audit conducted by the Commission on Audit (COA) which showed several irregularities in the grant of cash advances to Gamos from 2004 to 2007.

 

The audit showed that 52 cash advances with no stated purpose were granted to Gamos from August 2004 to October 2007 totalling P2,770,589.60.

 

In 2007, another cash advance with no stated purpose amounting to P400,000.00 was given to Gamos and from 2005 to 2007, another cash advance totaling P6.45 million was processed by Laco and Gile.

 

Despite receiving three demand letters from the COA, only P3,241,524.78 was duly liquidated and accounted for as of 2008.

 

Morales said that despite being “aware that the previous cash advances of Mayor Gamos were not yet liquidated despite which they allowed him to obtain subsequent cash advances in violation of COA rules and regulations.”

 

She added the said acts of Laco and Gile “appear to have been in conspiracy toward the attainment of the purpose of Mayor Gamos in misappropriating public funds." — Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMA News