Isabela mayor awaiting reports on stolen funds

BACOLOD City – Isabela town Mayor Irene Montilla said yesterday morning they were awaiting the investigation results from both the police and the Negros Occidental Provincial Government over municipal funds that were allegedly stolen from the house of the town’s treasurer on Jan. 21.

In an interview, Montilla said municipal treasurer Neneth Escarda told her what happened during their talk on Friday, Jan. 27.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz also informed the mayor that Escarda was in her office on Monday. Later that day, Escarda turned over all documents from the municipal treasurer›s office.

Meanwhile, Montilla said they requested the Bureau of Local Government and Finance for the treasurer’s termination due to “loss of trust and confidence” on the part of the municipality.

The mayor also pointed out that municipal treasurers are forbidden from taking home any property of the municipal government, and there is an official order assigning somebody else to deposit the municipal government’s funds in the bank.

“Natingala ko ngaa gin dala nya ya puli with the intention of depositing over the weekend. Indi na ina ya kasali sa iya duties,” Montilla said.

Isabel a municipal police chief Police Capt. Ar- Jay Dangarang said the

Commission on Audit (COA) has finished auditing the municipal government’s funds and confirmed that the missing cash and checks were estimated at close to P7 million.

The COA also recommended in its report that Escarda should be removed from her post.

Dangarang said they are now finishing their report on the incident and would forward their endorsement to the municipal government and the Provincial Legal Office.

On J an. 21, Escarda reported to Bacolod City Police Station 6 that her house in Barangay Taculing was burglarized. However, the police observed several oddities in the case./