Ex-mayor faces raps

PILAR, BOHOL — Former mayor Wilson Pajo of Pilar town in Bohol is now facing administrative and criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for un-liquidated cash advances from intelligence funds, amounting to P420,750, during his incumbency as mayor.

The case (numbered as OMB-VC-18-0060) stated that Pajo is accused of violating Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code or RepublicAct 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), and Commission On Audit Circular 201201.

The complainant - former mayor and judge Leonardo Mendez - found that Pajo, who served as mayor of Pilar town from 2004 to 2013, "deliberately failed" to liquidate the funds, "and there were no traces of compliance of the liquidation requirements pertaining to intelligence and confidential funds for local government unit."

Mendez, in his affidavit, said that the municipal accountant's office confirmed that, "only Necitas Cubrado was able to submit liquidation documents as to her cash advances mentioned above and such liquidation is evidenced by a certification issued by Elaine E. Resusta, municipal accountant-designate, stating that Cubrado has no unliquidated cash advances as of November 1, 2017."

Mendez urged the Ombudsman "for a preliminary investigation be conducted and corresponding information be filed as the circumstances and evidences warrant."

Pajo however denied Mendez allegation of un-liquidated cash advances, insisting that he "religiously liquidated confidential fund cash advances from the start of my term in 2004 until 2013." He argued that if he had not done (submitted liquidation), he cannot draw the cash advances from said fund every quarter.

The report of the municipal accountant - showing that he had unliquidated cash advances- was "because there was yet no credit notice issued by COA special audit fund central office." Pajo was also banking on the testimonies of his former employees, as support of his claim that he indeed accounted the said fund.

Narciso Butron Jr., his former secretary, claimed in a separate sworn statement that he prepared and submitted the said liquidation to COA special audit fund at Quezon city. Marie Anne Cabangbang, a job order employee during Pajo's incumbency, attested that she also did the same.