Ombudsman suspends Lambunao, Iloilo vice mayor for 9 months

The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the nine-month suspension of the vice mayor of Lambunao, Iloilo after he was found guilty of receiving irregular transportation allowances (TA) in 2014.

In a press statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said Vice Mayor Cesar Gonzales was found guilty of simple misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Meanwhile, the Ombudsman penalized former Lambunao mayor Reynor Gonzales with a fine equivalent to his nine-month salary.

The anti-graft body earlier indicted Reynor and Cesar for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from the investigation of the Commission on Audit which showed that the respondents continued to receive their allowances despite a government service vehicle assigned to them for their official use.

According to COA’s notice of disallowance, Reynor received a total transportation allowance of P90,000 while Cesar received P83,880 from January to December 2014.

The COA said under a circular from the Department of Budget and Management, pubic officials “who were assigned or who use government motor transportation shall no longer be entitled to the TA, but only to the commutable [representation allowance] for the month.”

The Ombudsman said Reynor only settled half of his irregular allowance, while Cesar has yet to settle them.

“Records show that respondents did not deny the receipt of the ND. Despite such receipt, respondent Reynor only partially settled the disallowance in the total amount of P40,400.00 as evidenced by the 21 June 2016 Notice of Settlement of Suspension/Disallowance/Charge and the receipts submitted by respondent Reynor,” the Ombudsman said.

“To this date, the record is bereft of evidence to show that he had settled the remaining balance. On the other hand, respondent Cesar had not shown any evidence that he had settled or complied with such ND,” it added.

The Ombudsman resolution also cited a Supreme Court ruling which stated that “the use of government motor vehicle and claim for transportation allowance are mutually exclusive and incompatible.”

“Both respondents participated in the questioned disbursement in their respective capacities as municipal officers. Without the imprimatur of Reynor, respondent Cesar would not have been able to claim his TA,” the anti-graft body said. — MDM, GMA News