A RETIRED municipal treasurer of Bantayan town, northern Cebu will face trial for allegedly misappropriating P6 million in government funds.
The Ombudsman-Visayas found sufficient basis to indict Charlita Sequino on charges of malversation of public funds and for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
An investigation conducted by the anti-graft office showed that Sequino failed to remit her supposed collections worth P6,103,246.12 from November 2011 to April 2013.
Bantayan Mayor Christopher Ian Escario earlier requested the Ombudsman to investigate Sequino who incurred a shortage in her collections.
Sequino admitted she borrowed P1.5 million of the money entrusted to her.
The other amount, she said, represent some of the cash advances made by town employees.
When the Commission on Audit required her to produce the amount, Sequino said she no longer had access to the treasurer’s office since she was on an official leave from March 15, 2013 to June 30, 2013. She eventually retired on Sept. 23, 2013.
The Ombudsman said failure to produce the missing funds is enough evidence to prove that the respondent misappropriated the government money.