BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Three retired and four still active employees of the municipality of Calinog, Iloilo were fined and dismissed from government service, respectively, for grave misconduct in connection with the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
Yesterday, Director Theodora Sumagaysay of the Department of Interior and Local Government-Iloilo served the dismissal order of the respondents.
The seven were:
- Valentin B. Sobretodo (retired municipal treasurer)
- Meriam F. Celeste (retired acting municipal accountant)
- Crispino V. Castro (retired municipal agriculturist)
- Jose Rex A. Casipe (municipal property officer)
- Ma. Melanie L. Hilario (acting municipal administrator)
- Rhoda Lyn C. Panizales (municipal planning development officer)
- Jose Edeso A. Enriquez (Municipal Engineer), and
- Anna Lerio Caspillo (Sangguniang Bayan secretary).
Having found “substantial evidence” against them for grave misconduct, the Ombudsman ordered the seven dismissed from government service with forfeiture of all benefits.
The Ombudsman also imposed on them perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
However, since Sobretodo, Celeste and Castro were already retired, said Sumagaysay, the penalty shall be converted to a fine in the amount equivalent to their salary for one year payable to the Office of the Ombudsman.
This may be deducted from the respondents’ retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables, said Sumagaysay.
Meanwhile, Lourdes Coronado, the municipal budget officer, was cleared.
It was the Task Force Abono, field investigation office of the Office of the Ombudsman that filed a complaint for dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service against the municipal employees over the procurement of fertilizers sometime in May 2004 during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo./PN
