CRIMINAL and administrative complaints were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday against Lipa City Mayor Eric Africa and seven other respondents from the local government in connection with alleged questionable cash advances totaling P107.272 million released between March 3 to 11, 2022.
The complaint affidavit was signed by one Levi Lopez, who identified himself as a taxpayer and resident of Barangay 9, Lipa City in Batangas.
Named co-respondents were city accountant Ma. Belen Villanueva; mayor’s chief of staff Wilfredo Rivera; City Community Affairs Office staff Rochelle Catindig and Melany Aguila; and Office of the Mayor executive assistants Dexter Recio, Philip Maurice Ulep, and Mary Ann Gutierrez.
According to a breakdown of the cash advances attached to Lopez’ complaint, Ulep was granted cash advances of P24.385 million for the allowances of persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents, and senior citizens; Rivera (P22.389 million) for the local pension of senior citizens; Catindig (P21.2 million) college financial assistance for the second semester; Recio (P14.107 million) payment of extended benefit assistance for the transport sector and LINGAP Lipa; Gutierrez (P13.078 million) payment for Tugon sa Education 1st Quarter of 2022; and Aguila (P12.112 million) payment for college and senior high school educational financial assistance 2nd Semester 2022.
The complainant said none of the six are authorized to handle public funds in substantial amounts since under COA Circular No. 97-002 only officials holding permanent positions may be designated as disbursing officers.
“Said employees are holding coterminous positions. Yet they have been designated as disbursing officers and actually received cash advances,” the complainant pointed out.
The complainant also said the Local Government Code states that it was the Office of the City Treasurer, not the Office of the City mayor, that should handle disbursement of financial assistance.
Lopez also noted that the cash advances were released just three weeks prior to the start of the campaign period for local candidates where Africa was running for reelection.
He sought indictments against the respondents for plunder, malversation of public funds, and graft, aside from liability for alleged administrative offenses, including grave misconduct, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
