OMBUD REBUKES TOWN VM OVER P108T CASH ADVANCES

Dalaguete Vice Mayor Jeffrey Buenconsejo Belciña failed to settle his cash advances on time, prompting the ombudsman’s office to lodge the complaint against him

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has reprimanded Vice Mayor Jeffrey Buenconsejo-Belciña of Dalaguete, Cebu, for the delayed settlement of his cash advances amounting to P108,485 in 2016.

Portia Pacquaio, graft investigation and prosecution officer, admonished Belciña for his failure to observe state audit rules on the prompt liquidation of cash advances.

“As such, respondent deserves to be admonished to be mindful of promptly liquidating future cash advances pursuant to the Commission on Audit rules and other related laws,” read Pacquiao’s resolution.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office, which had said that Belciña failed to liquidate P108,485 in cash advances. That act allegedly constitutes a violation of Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code (failure of an accountable officer to render accounts), grave misconduct and neglect of duty.

Belciña received his cash advances for various official trips to Manila from 2011 to 2015.

He was required to liquidate his cash advances within 30 days from his return to his office, pursuant to COA Circular 97-002 (Rules and Regulations on the Granting, Utilization and Liquidation of Cash Advances).

However, Belciña failed to settle his cash advances on time, prompting the ombudsman’s probe office to lodge the complaint against him.

Replying to the charges, Belciña said he had settled his advances last March 9, 2017, before he received a copy of the complaint on March 17 of the same year.

Although the settlement of cash advances was late, Belciña said he did it “in good faith.”

In the resolution, Pacquiao said that Belciña cannot be held liable for grave misconduct and neglect of duty since he settled his advances, albeit delayed.

Although the ombudsman dismissed the administrative case against him, the anti-graft office held that Belciña has to be reprimanded so he would be more circumspect and prudent in complying with audit rules.

The ombudsman warned Belciña of a stiffer penalty if he commits the same offense. /