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[av_heading heading=’Ex-Lambunao mayor, vice face graft raps over travel allowance’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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January 11, 2018
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MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict former Lambunao, Iloilo mayor Reynor Gonzales and Vice Mayor Cesar Gonzales for receiving transportation allowance in 2014 despite using government vehicles.
In a resolution released yesterday, the Ombudsman said the Gonzaleses should be charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Under Department of Budget and Management Circular No. 2013-103, those who are assigned to or who use government motor transportation shall no longer be entitled to a travel allowance, but only to the commutable representation allowance for the month.
The complaint against the two Gonzaleses stemmed from the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2014 Annual Audit Report which stated that the respondents received travel allowance even if they were assigned with government vehicles.
Based on the Notice of Disallowance that COA issued, Reynor received a total of P90,000 travel allowance while Cesar got P83,880 from January 2014 to December 2014.
“Records show that respondents did not deny the receipt of the Notice of Disallowance. Despite such receipt, respondent Reynor only partially settled the disallowance in the total amount of P40,400 as evidenced by the June 21, 2016 Notice of Settlement of Suspension / Disallowance / Charge and the receipts submitted by respondent Reynor,” according to the Ombudsman.
To this date, it added, “the record is bereft of evidence to show that he had settled the remaining balance.”
On the other hand, “respondent Cesar had not shown any evidence that he had settled or complied with such Notice of Disallowance,” said the Ombudsman.
Citing a Supreme Court decision (Domingo vs COA) the Ombudsman said “the use of government motor vehicle and claim for transportation allowance are mutually exclusive and incompatible.”
“Both respondents participated in the questioned disbursement in their respective capacities as municipal officers. Without the imprimatur of Reynor, respondent Cesar would not have been able to claim his travel allowance,” the Ombudsman resolution further read.
The two Gonzaleses could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
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