BAKUN, Benguet -- – For issuing a P5-million
check without any supporting document, a former mayor and municipal treasurer
of this town have been sentenced to 18 years in prison for malversation of
public funds.
In a ruling issued
Wednesday, the Sandiganbayan said former Bakun mayor Bartolome Sacla Sr. and
former municipal treasurer Manuel Bagayao were also perpetually disqualified
from holding public office and must pay a fine of P5 million each.
“At the time of the
issuance of the check, two prevalent factors made the transaction highly
irregular: the check was issued without any supporting document, such as the
disbursement voucher, and no accountant’s advice was issued, which was a COA
(Commission on Audit) requirement,” the ruling stated.
“Considering the
number of years and experience devoted by Sacla to public service from the time
he served as barangay captain to the time he was elected councilor, until he
became mayor, he would have been more than aware of the fiscal requirements in
the release of public funds,” the ruling stated.
Sacla claimed the
check was issued as payment for medical supplies.
The Office of the
Ombudsman said malversation is committed by misappropriating public funds or
property, through abandonment or negligence, or by permitting any other person
to take such funds.
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