Zambo del Norte mayor faces criminal raps over P2-M unliquidated cash advances

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of multiple counts of criminal charges against the outgoing mayor of Katipunan town in Zamboanga del Norte over the alleged P2 million worth of unliquidated cash advances incurred in 1998.

In a resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, outgoing Katipunan mayor Crisostomo “Cris” Eguia Jr. was ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan with the following offenses:

• 90 counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,
• 89 counts of violation of Presidential Decree 1445 or the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines
• 55 counts of malversation of public funds as defined and penalized under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC)

Also ordered charged were municipal treasurer Cipriano Plazos and municipal accountant Urdaneta Madridondo.

In a press statement Wednesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said aside from their indictment for alleged criminal offenses, Eguia, Plazos and Madridondo were also found administratively guilty of gross misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and thus were ordered dismissed from service.

The Ombudsman said the three officials were also meted with the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits

Eguia won as vice-mayor of Katipunan town in the May 9 elections.

GMA News Online tried to get a reaction from Eguia's office, but the calls remained unanswered as of posting time.

However, in a text message to GMA News Online, Ombudsman Public Information and Media Relations Bureau acting director Rawnsle Lopez clarified that Eguia still has pending motions for reconsideration both for his criminal and administrative indictments. 

Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, Eguia, from 1998 to 2011, received a total of P2 million cash advances for supposed travel expenses. However, the amount remains unliquidated despite a demand by the Commission on Audit (COA) in February 2012.

The Ombudsman said that the COA, in its audit report, also noted several irregularities in the release of the cash fund such as lack of supporting documents, travel order and receipts.

The COA also noted in its report that the itinerary of travels were approved by the mayor himself instead of the governor.

“It is a declared public policy that all resources of the government should be managed, expended or utilized in accordance with the law and safeguarded against loss or wastage…As head of agency, respondent Eguia has the additional responsibility to ensure the proper granting, utilization and liquidation of all cash advances,” the Ombudsman’s resolution read. —Elizabeth Marcelo/KBK, GMA News