Ex-Caraga execs face graft raps

TWO former government officials of Caraga town, Davao Oriental are facing charges before the Sandiganbayan after they were found guilty for graft and corruption.

Charged with three counts of violation of the Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act are former Mayor William Dumaan and former municipal treasurer Arnold Samson.

The Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao also found probable cause to charge Samson with three counts of Failure of Accountable Officer to Render Accounts of the Revised Penal Code.

In an official website of the Ombudsman, it said the two former government officials were charged following the irregularities in the disbursement of funds for the municipality’s founding anniversary celebration last 2011.

Documents showed that in July 2011, the accused authorized the disbursement of P1,479,200.57 as cash advance for the anniversary without observing pertinent rules required by Commission on Audit and the Local Government Code.

A perusal of the three disbursement vouchers shows that the municipal accountant did not sign the certification that the allotment had been obligated for the purpose indicated and the supporting docu-

ments were complete.

The Ombudsman said Samon signed the certification that only P463,800.75 was available to fund the activity.

It added that despite the deficiencies, Duma-an still approved the payment of these disbursements. He has signed the checks with Samon as the other signatory and, at the same time, the payee.

Resolution of the Ombudsman showed that the payment of the cash advances should not have been made for the deficiencies were so blatant. Moreover, these 2011 cash advances have not been liquidated by Samon.

Duma-an failed to substantiate his claim that the cash advances were used for their intended purpose.