Romero sues 4 town officials

Mayor Romero joins municipal workers in their advocacy

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – The mayor here has filed administrative cases  and is set to file criminal charges against four municipal officials  in connection with alleged  P8-million payroll scam.

Mayor Herminio A. Romero mentioned  in a press conference those who were charged administratively at the Civil Service Commission as. Susana P. Bauzon, municipal treasurer;  Marielyn D. Gonzales, assistant treasurer;  Evelyn L. Bernabe, municipal accountant; and  Helen A. Aquino, chief Human Resource Management Office.

Before Romero and Provincial Legal Officer Atty Geraldine Baniqued charged them at the CSC  last May 15 in San Fernando, La Union, the four have applied for 20 days voluntary leave.

 “According to COA reports, there is unliquidated cash balance of P7, 937,858.14. Of this balance, there were alterations in the amount of P2, 039,580.00 for the year 2011 and 3 months of 2012,” Romero said.

A source said that assistant treasurer

Bernabe has returned almost P2million to the public coffer before the case was filled against her.

Romeo G. Idia, this town budget officer, explained in the same press conference how “smart alecks” altered the payroll’s figure submitted to him by the accounting office. He said someone erased the amount of P1, 400 and changed the figure “1” to “3”, and the “4” to “9” by making them appear as P39, 000 or an excess of P25, 000 from the original P1,400.

Romero said he was waiting for the recommendation of the CSC as his basis  for filing a criminal case against the officials at the Ombudsman.

He lauded those who brought out the malfeasances and called on others to do the same  if they know of some wrongdoings so the culprits can be charged.

 Aside from the P8 million scam, the special investigation of COA from San Carlos City, uncovered another P1.7937 malversation of petty cash.

Romero said this anomaly will be included in the charges at the CSC and the Ombudsman.