Deceased Pinamungajan mayor fined

THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas found the late Pinamungajan mayor Jeffrey Yapha liable for failing to return seven government-issued firearms.

Yapha died on September 11, 2014, while being treated for a clot in his left leg. He was 57 years old.

The anti-graft office said that although death absolves him of his liabilities, it is proper to resolve the administrative complaint for record purposes.

He was meted a fine of P552,461, which was twice the amount of the firearms he failed to produce.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Eileen Mae Lagat-Alde said the death of the respondent in an administrative case does not preclude a finding of an administrative liability except in some instances, which are not present in Yapha’s case.

Early on, a certain Rigel Teñedo filed an administrative complaint against Yapha for not returning seven government-issued firearms despite having received three notices from municipal treasurer Ursula Managaytay.

In his counter-affidavit, Yapha denied the allegation.

But Alde   said he  clearly received firearms from the government but failed to return them.

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