Balungao treasurer surfaces, accuses Peraltas of malversation
AFTER more than two years of disappearance, former Balungao Municipal Treasurer Milavic Lavarias-Ulpindo has resurfaced and is accusing the former mayor and vice mayor of using the missing P8.3 million for which she is charged with malversation.
“Gusto kong linisin ang pangalan ko, wala po sa akin ‘yong pera, nasa kanila,” said Ulpino in a press conference last April 26 in Dagupan City, pointing to the Peralta brothers, then Mayor Joselito Peralta Jr. and Vice Mayor Philip Peralta.
Ulpindo is facing a case of malversation of public funds under case number CPL-1-11-0317 filed by the Commission on Audit (COA) before the office of the Ombudsman.
Ulpindo admitted she has no records or documentary evidence to prove her claims saying, “Dahil mayor po sya, wala po, wala po akong maipapakita.”
The case stems from the unaccounted funds discovered in a special audit conducted by the COA Central Office at the Balungao Municipal Hall in October 26, 2010.
“That day I was officially on-leave… Hindi ko alam na may special audit kami, hindi ako tinawagan,” explained Ulpindo.
Thereafter, her office was sealed by the COA with the Municipal Accountant.
Ulpindo said she decided not to report for work anymore as she was frightened and the Peraltas instructed her to leave.
“Pinaalis nila ako doon para ako ang magdusa sa ginawa nila,” she claimed.
Ulpindo left for Singapore in November 2010 and worked there as a caregiver for one and a half years.
She pointed out that if she did indeed have the money, she would not have opted to suffer the hardships of working as an overseas worker.
Ulpindo worked for about thirteen years in the Balungao local government. She was assigned as the Officer-in-Charge to the Office of Municipal Treasurer in 1997 and eventually appointed as the Municipal Treasurer in 2001.
STATE WITNESS
Board Member Ranjit Shahani, who accompanied Ulpindo in the press conference, said, “She’s willing to turn state witness and attest to the fact that she was given instruction by elective leaders to malverse that amount.”
Shahani said that he has talked to some COA representatives and the complaint against Ulpindo may be amended with Ulpindo turning into a state witness against the Peraltas.
“I cannot countenance this kind of corruption and violence…it is my job to be loyal to the people,” explained Shahani why he decided to to help Ulpindo.
“Balungao is the only town in the whole of region I that did not get the Seal of Good Housekeeping as per the recommendation of COA because of this (case),” he added.
Philip Peralta is the incumbent mayor and is running for re-election along with another Peralta, Minda, the vice mayor. They are running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Shahani, who is also running for re-election, belongs to the opposing Liberal Party.–Johanne R. Macob
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