Ex-LTO execs face trial for P23.8-M graft case

Five former officials of the regional office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) are facing a string of graft charges for allegedly facilitating the anomalous release of several checks worth P23.8 million.

The Office of the Ombudsman found enough evidence to have the officials tried before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court.

Impleaded in the case were former LTO-7 director Alex Leyson, former cashier Marissa Veriña, former human resource management officer Joel Maloloy-on, supervising transportation regulation officer Gonzalo Baybay and accountant Corazon Bascon.

Among the accused, former cashier Veriña is facing the most number of cases. She was charged with 192 counts of technical malversation, 51 counts of malversation of public funds, 50 counts of falsification of commercial documents, and 37 counts of falsification of public documents.

The numbers correspond to the number of checks and documents she purportedly fabricated to pilfer government funds from Jan. 2005 to Aug. 31, 2007.

According to audit reports, Veriña misappropriated funds by issuing checks in her name without the approved disbursement vouchers (DVs), issuing checks in her name instead of the payees indicated in approved DVs, and issuing checks with amounts higher than those approved.

Bad faith

“Verina acted with evident bad faith when she falsified checks covering public funds in her custody in order to amass the same…,” said Assistant Special Prosecutor Anna Isabel Aurellano.
Veriña did not submit a counter-affidavit.

Leyson was impleaded in the case for negligence.

“Had Leyson been circumspect, he could have easily discovered the anomalies apparent on the face of the documents. Still, he signed the checks,” Aurellano said.

Leyson explained that his act of signing the check was purely ministerial and that he had no participation in misappropriating public funds.

Former employees Baybay and Maloloy-on were linked for counter-signing the checks, while Bascon was cited for her failure to supervise and review bank statements.

The Commission on Audit investigated the case after receiving complaints raised by LTO employees and creditors. The case was referred to the Ombudsman.