Laoag City execs, SK prexy in hot water for SK fund mess

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Kabataan Federated Association in Ilocos Norte bared plans to conduct its own investigation following the discovery of some 79 Laoag SK chairperson who signed a blank payroll while they attended a leadership training at a resort in this city. They were also allegedly made to sign a waiver authorizing the Laoag SK president to collect their travelling expenses.

Ilocos Norte SK Federated President Rafael Medina confirmed this as several SK presidents of Laoag expressed their dismay when they found out that a total of PHP73,075 has been liquidated as their per diem after attending a three-day live in seminar on November 28-30, 2018, which they did not receive.

Through a joint committee hearing of the committees on laws, youth and good government held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall on January 16, 2019, the investigation revealed that the Laoag city government through the Local Youth Development Office and the Office of the Mayor initiated the said seminar entitled “Leadership for Governance Education” with a project cost estimate of PHP325,875 to cover per diem and hotel accommodation of the 79 participants.

In the disbursement voucher of the city government, it shows Laoag SK President Anzhelyka Faye Lao et. al signed the document for a cash advance for the training but there was no indication of the check number, name of the bank and date it was received.

Said document also bears the signature of Laoag City government accountant Edgar Pascual and Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas.

In the joint committee hearing attended by the Laoag SK officials, Ms. Lao admitted she signed the liquidation documents but an employee of the city government whom she described as ‘alter ego’ of the mayor took the check after signing it.

In view of this, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Vicentito M. Lazo said another hearing will be conducted anytime next week and they will invite Sheila de Leon, designated as Market Superintendent at the Laoag City Commercial Center but holding office at the Office of the Mayor and other city government employees who had a hand in processing the liquidation documents of the SK seminar.

Mr. Lazo said these employees mentioned in the January 16, 2019 hearing will be invited by the body to shed light on the issue.

“We have yet to clear the air of the missing PHP90 million funds of Laoag. Until now, the sky has not yet cleared. When will this stop? I don’t have [an] answer to that,” said Mr. Lazo as he clarified that it was not his intention to humiliate the SK.

“I did not scold the SK presidents. Maybe it was their first time to see me and the fact remains that PHP73,075, which should have landed on the hands of 79 SK presidents of Laoag was stolen,” Mr. Lazo underscored.

For his part, the Laoag government’s local youth development officer Hipolito Carlos Salva, Jr. admitted that it was his first time to facilitate the conduct the SK training and sought the help of the mayor’s office, particularly in the processing of financial documents needed.