CG OFFICER ‘POCKETS’ P2.9M COLLECTION

Case stemmed from an audit report on a cash shortage of P2,935,710 incurred by suspect for June 17, 2008 to June 3, 2014

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted a former personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station for allegedly pocketing about P2.9 million in public funds.

Carla Michelle Chaves-Gonzaga, graft investigation and prosecution officer, found evidence to charge Priscilla Anunciado, then PCG-Cebu human resources management assistant, with violating Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Anunciado, who then served as the agency’s cashier, allegedly pocketed a total of P2,935,710 in public funds representing her collection from revenues of the Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas. The case was raffled to the Regional Trial Court Branch 7.

The case stemmed from an audit report by the Commission on Audit (COA) 7 on the cash shortage amounting to P2,935,710 incurred by Anunciado for June 17, 2008 to June 3, 2014.

Auditors noted that Anunciado did not remit in full her daily cash collections, a violation of the provisions of the New Government Accounting System. COA sent a demand letter to Anunciado, but she didn’t respond.

In her letter-reply to the auditors, Anunciado admitted she used her collections for her personal purposes such as financial assistance to her religious organization, medical expenses, and her family’s needs.

Anunciado said she would take full responsibility for her cash shortage and vowed to settle her financial obligations once their ancestral house is sold. /