The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict San Sebastian, Samar municipal treasurer Virginia Uy for violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code in connection with unliquidated cash advances totaling P12,367,986.35 granted from 2009-2012.
In its Resolution, the Ombudsman stated that “public funds had been recorded as disbursed in 2011 and 2012 yet the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents for the transactions were not submitted to the COA for audit. The Ombudsman noted that Uy was also “the payee of the checks, therefore, she was personally accountable for the funds.”
Meanwhile, the COA also found that the municipality was charged with penalties amounting to P642,850.31 for checks drawn against insufficient funds.
“Through gross inexcusable negligence, she certified that funds are available in the municipality’s bank account when the bank balance was already insufficient to fund the checks issued by the municipality. Her neglectful act caused the bank to charge the municipality with penalties for checks “drawn against insufficient funds,“ stated the Resolution. ###