School execs face graft raps in court for disallowance
Cebu Technologica University | Photo from Google.com
EIGHT officials of the Cebu Technological University face trial after they were indicted by the Ombudsman for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The officials, most of whom were also dismissed from service, were also found guilty of the administrative charge of grave misconduct for granting a monthly P3,000 representation and travel allowance (RETA) to accountant Gilminarde Santos.
Aside from Santos, among those indicted were Bonifacio Villanueva (president), Rodolfo Burgos (vice president for administration),
Letrondo (chief administrative officer), Normita Mejala (finance manager), Ruth Mangaya-ay (disbursing officer), Pontiano Bontia (campus director) and Ruel Tillor (internal auditor).
The dismissal stemmed from a letter sent by CTU faculty president Eugenio Ermac to the Ombudsman in Jan. 24, 2012 that voiced his concerns on Santos’ receipt of “representation and traveling allowance.”
Santos allegedly received P3,000 per month from August 2011 to April 2013, or about P63,000.
The Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed the payment of RETA to Santos through a notice of disallowance on February 7, 2014. This was followed by another disallowance on April 28, 2014.
In his counter-affidavit, Santos admitted receiving the payments but cited a resolution by the CTU Board of Management, which authorized the payment.
Santos said the amount was only for “coffee and snacks” and could not cover all expenses that he incurred in his job.
The CTU officials supported Santos, saying the payments were made in good faith. But the COA said Santos’ position does not entitle him to receive the allowance.
The Ombudsman also said the CTU charter specifies that it is the Board of Regents that has authority to direct the school’s policies in spending its funds and not “the board of management” which it said was “bogus.”
It said the respondents conspired to grant the allowance to Santos and that this “illegal act warrants criminal and administrative sanctions.” Villanueva and Bontia resigned from service while Burgos passed away.
CTU’s incumbent president Dr. Rosein Ancheta Jr. is out of town while the university’s legal officer Marvey Arnoco-Ocampo could not be reached for comment.
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