Ombudsman orders filing of raps vs. 3 Surigao del Sur town execs for unliquidated funds

The Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman) has ordered the filing of charges against former mayors Henrich (now Sanguniang Panlungsod member) and Herminigildo Pimentel, Jr. of Tago, Surigao del Sur, for failing to properly liquidate and account for several cash advances received for the period 2002 to 2012. (Photo: Office of the Ombudsman Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA—The Office of the (Ombudsman) has ordered the filing of charges against former mayors Henrich (now Sanguniang Panlungsod member) and Herminigildo Pimentel, Jr. of Tago, Surigao del Sur, for failing to properly liquidate and account for several cash advances received for the period 2002 to 2012.

Also included in the indictment is municipal accountant Pedro Secarro.

Henrich is facing one count of failure to render account for the non-liquidation of travel expenses totalling Php 133,146.25 undertaken in 2011 to 2012 while Herminildo also faces one count of failure to render account for failing to liquidate his cash advance for the purchase of a laptop.

Likewise, Secarro is facing one count each of failure to render account and malversation, and two counts of violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.

Secarro faces charges for allowing municipal employees to obtain additional cash advances despite failure to liquidate prior funds and also for failure to account for three cash advances covering travel expenses and purchase of office equipment.

In the Ombudsman joint resolution, it said that “based on the evidence on record, through respondent’s gross and inexcusable negligence, around Php 9 million as of 2012, could no longer be accounted for, to the detriment of the local government.”