Binmaley’s municipal accountant suspended anew
BINMALEY—The town’s municipal accountant has been meted another 60-day preventive suspension starting August 27 after being charged “of gross neglect in the performance of duty, grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.”
The administrative case filed by Mayor Simplicio Rosario stemmed from the failure of the accountant to explain the extremely high expenses incurred by the local government “for gasoline, oil and lubricants covering the period July 2012 to June 2013”.
Rosario said the municipality incurred a total of P3, 895, 549.01 in expenses for the period July 2012 to June 2013, compared to h P609, 799.95 spent for the same period from July 2013 to June 2014.
He questioned and rejected the reported gas expenses for the period July 2012 to June 2013 since the town owns few vehicles.
The mayor initially directed Engr. Jeffrey delos Angeles, municipal budget officer and Gertrudes Reyes, municipal accountant, to explain in writing the alleged discrepancy in the disbursement for gasoline, oil and lubricants.
The mayor accepted the explanation of Delos Angeles and absolved him of any blame or wrongdoing.
The mayor, however, rejected the explanation of Reyes. He said that instead of explaining the wide gap in difference in expenditures, Reyes merely blamed the “irregular policies” of his predecessor, ex-Mayor Lorenzo Cerezo and his (Rosario’s) own when he began his term in 2010.
Rosario provided The PUNCH a copy of Reyes letter.
In her letter, Reyes said as municipal accountant, she is under the supervision and control of the mayor, and therefore could be not be faulted for any discrepancy in the town’s financial reports.
Reyes even cited details of Rosario’s own policies involving cash advances of several employees and said she never objected nor complained because she simply was made to obey their orders.
In her letter, Reyes also suggested a special audit of the disbursements of municipal funds from June 30, 2004 to date.
Rosario flatly denied some of Reyes claims in his reply to her and attributed the irregularity to her “failure or willful omission to faithfully perform your duties and functions as municipal accountant and internal auditor at the same time.”
Rosario said he had to file the administrative cases against her and imposed a 60-day preventive suspension to preclude the possibility of her influencing the on-going investigation. This is the second time, Reyes was meted a preventive suspension.– (Hilda M. Austria)
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