Ombuds clears ex-town vice mayor

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed for lack of evidence the criminal complaint filed against a former town vice mayor for failure to render and accounting of his cash advances.

The anti-graft office found no sufficient evidence to indict Herman Antonio Bascon for violation of Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code. Bascon, former vice mayor of San Remigio, failed to render an accounting of the P118,831 cash advance granted to him in 2018.

The Ombudsman's field investigation office recommended the prosecution of Bascon but graft investigator Rheia Tibon said the evidence is wanting.

"Under the circumstances, the complaint for failure of accountable officer to render accounts must be dismissed for lack of probable cause," reads the resolution.

Bascon claimed that he turned over all the receipts and documents to his secretary but the latter lost them all. As a result, he offered to the Municipal Local Finance Committee to deduct his unsettled cash advances from his terminal leave benefits.

The cash advances were deducted from Bascon's retirement benefits on January 16, 2017.

"Municipal records show that respondent's unliquidated cash advances were deducted from his terminal leave benefits as settlement for the liquidation due," the anti-graft investigator said.

Meanwhile, two public utility jeepney passengers who were arrested three years ago for alleged possession of illegal drugs during a checkpoint were acquitted because of technicality.

Regional Trial Court Judge Macaundas Hadjirasul dismissed the charges against Ian Fernandez and Van Anthony Nuena for violation of Section 11 Article II of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Hadjirasul questioned the manner by which the two accused were arrested by the personnel of Parian Police Station.

The police claimed that the two accused were passengers of a PUJ they flagged down during random checkpoint. They were allegedly asked to raise their shirts during the inspection and found sachets of shabu in their possession.

The court said it was not allowed under the law because authorities are limited only to visual searches. Hadjirasul said that asking the accused to raise their shirts and to show the contents of their pockets are not permitted under the rules.