BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
THE CAPITOL of the Province of Negros Occidental is currently “on fire”.
The cause: “The Nenette Escarda Story”. It’s all about the P6.4M cash and checks from Isabela town’s coffer.
The 60-year-old Escarda is Cashier I at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO). Being a passer of Basic Competency for Local Treasury Examination (BCLTE) and Ethics-Oriented Personality Test (EOPT) both by the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF) and Civil Service Commission (CSC), she was designated as acting Municipal Treasurer in Isabela vice Elnora Gamarza who retired in September 2019. Her interim appointment was endorsed by PTO and approved by BLGF.
For three years, everything was smooth – until Feb. 1 when news about this “Isabela fund brouhaha” rocked the province.
At first, it was just a blind item on Facebook (FB). Later, a blotter report emerged at the Police Station (PS) 6 in Bacolod City.
Escarda, a resident of Purok Jardine, Doña Juliana, Las Palmas Subdivision in Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City, reported to the police the theft/robbery of cash and checks in her house at around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.
But the blotter report baffled the police. Closed circuit television camera footage they secured from the barangay showed no one entering Escarda’s house at that time and on the said date.
Too, no exact amount of the missing cash and checks was recorded at PS 6.
But the Commission on Audit (COA) marathon audit in Isabela confirmed that the reported missing cash totaled to P2.6M and the missing checks amounted to P3.8M.
For her part, Isabela’s Mayor Irene Montilla told the media she’ll wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
But she stressed that even before this controversy, she already lost trust and confidence in Escarda.
Gov. Bong Lacson, meanwhile, ordered the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) to conduct an immediate probe.
So, here comes the “crux of the matter”.
Escarda, a known capitol-beloved employee, is reportedly related by blood to one of the Capitol’s top guys. So, all eyes are focused now on PLO, especially on Provincial Attorney Alberto Nellas, Jr. on how he handles the probe.
Question: Can Nellas render sound judgment?
Let’s wait and see.
The PLO was noted to be a “little bit harsher” in previous cases of capitol department heads and employees that included:
* Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival “Joy” Salado
* Mambukal Resort head Ellen Marie Jalandoni
* Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino
* PLO lawyer-staff Ernie Magaspag
* Assistant Provincial Administrator Ma. Mina Pellejo
* Provincial Planning and Development Officer Marlin Sanogal
* Provincial Disaster Management Program Division Head Zeaphard Caellan
* The three engineers and a project officer from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA).
Six were dismissed from the service. Others are still on “floating status”.
Well, in all of PLO’s case decisions, a standard line – “for transparency”- can be read.
Hence, “The Nenette Escarda Story” is an “acid test” for the PLO.
But warned a known political guru in the province: “Beware of certain flaw(s) in the course of the investigation as they may eventually cause mayhem.”
I went to Isabela on Monday, Feb. 6. The audit was continuing.
I was informed that someone from Toboso town would replace Escarda as soon as the audit is over.
The Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army’s Leonardo Panaligan Command (CPP-NPA-LPC), which still has a “lair” in Isabela, has also weighed in on this matter.
A recent statement from it read: “Handa gid ang NPA sa pagsilot sa mga natungdan matapos nga mapamatud-an gikan sa maid-id nga imbestigasyon, proseso kag pagbisita sang Rebolusyonaryo Korte sang Pumuluyo (RKP).”/PN
