Sandiganbayan fines Cebu mayor for failure to liquidate funds

In a ruling dated Oct. 23, Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega of the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division ordered former Ronda, Cebu mayor Esteban Sia to pay a fine of PHP6,000 after the court noted “his willingness to pay the amount of unliquidated cash advances”. (File Photo By Patrick Roque/Wikimedia commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA – A former municipal mayor in Cebu was meted a fine for failing to liquidate PHP2.597 million in public funds for his official travels, intelligence fund, and other activities from 2007 to 2010.

In a ruling dated Oct. 23, Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Mendoza-Arcega of the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division ordered former Ronda, Cebu mayor Esteban Sia to pay a fine of PHP6,000 after the court noted “his willingness to pay the amount of unliquidated cash advances”.

As to his civil liability, the anti-graft court directed Sia to pay the municipality of Ronda, Cebu PHP2,597,560 with legal interest, representing unliquidated cash advances.

“In sum, the accused cannot admit nor deny that he was able to render a liquidation of cash advances in issue. The overwhelming documentary exhibits of the prosecution lead this Court to accept that, indeed, the accused failed to comply with his obligation as mandated by laws,” the court said.

Associate Justice Rafael R. Lagos and Maryann E. Corpus-Manalac concurred in the decision.