Ex-Palawan mayor charged over P790,000 unliquidated cash advances

The Office of the Ombudsman has charged a former Palawan mayor for allegedly failing to liquidate cash advances worth more than P790,000.

Charged with one count of failure to render accounts was former Rizal, Palawan mayor Samson Degillo.

In the charge sheet filed with the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman alleged that Degillo "willfully, unlawfully and feloniously" failed to render an account of public funds worth P791,298.16 he received from 2002 to July 2008 as cash advance for travel, training, and other miscellaneous supplies.

The Ombudsman said Degillo failed to liquidate such amount after the period required by Section 5 of Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 97-002 has lapsed and despite receipt of demand letter from COA directing him to settle his unliquidated cash advances.

Under the said circular, accountable officers must liquidate cash advances for travel within 60 days after returning to the Philippines in case of foreign travel and within 30 days after returning to a permanent station in case of local travel.

The Ombudsman has recommended a bail of P6,000 for Degillo. — MDM, GMA News