Laoag council continues missing P85M probe

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—The 11^th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag has restarted its probe on the missing PHP85.4 million.

The third committee hearing—in aid of legislation—was held June 3, 2020 at the SP Session Hall.

Laoag Vice Mayor Vicentito M. Lazo presided over the committee hearing with city government personnel allegedly involved from the cash division Milagros R. Quiape, Karen Mae Salvador-Racadio, Lani T. Ruiz, Antonete Bareng, acting city treasurer Diomedes Gayban and city accountant Edgar Pascual attending.

The hearing follows SP Resolution 2020-02, sponsored by Mr. Lazo, which calls for the investigation of the still unresolved issue.

The resource persons were put on oath by city legal counsel Josephus Neres.

Records show that the city government is missing PHP85.4 million as of December 2016, during the incumbency of former city treasurer Elena Asuncion.

Upon learning of the missing amount, Mrs. Asuncion fled to the United States of America on June 14, 2016 when accountant Mr. Pascual discovered the missing amount.

The 10^th Sangguniang Panlungsod began the initial investigation of the issue, also on “aid of legislation”.

The previous council passed four resolution about the missing fund: resolution giving authority to the city government of Laoag, represented by former Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas to terminate/close the city’s accounts with both the Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Rang Ay Bank in compliance with the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) memorandum circular No. 06-2016 an of other purposes; r

Resolution requiring all depository banks of the city government of Laoag for the submission of monthly statements to the city mayor, Sangguniang Panlungsod, city treasurer, city accountant, and the Commission on Audit of Laoag City pertaining to all accounts maintained by the city regardless of its nature and classification;

Resolution requiring the city accountant and the city treasurer to submit to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, office of the city mayor, and the Commission on Audit regular monthly reports on the result of reconciliation of records of all city bank accounts and the actual collections of the city treasurer;

And a resolution requesting the Commission on Audit to facilitate the conduct of the investigation pertaining to the missing funds of the city government of Laoag. 

The COA Central Division Anti-Fraud Division requested the city government of Laoag for some documents they need in the on-going investigation.

The Ilocos Times learned that the breakdown of the missing fund are as follows: LBP with the amount of PHP22,766,270.57 in both savings and time deposit accounts; DBP with PHP36,296,252.75, both savings and time deposit accounts; PNB with PHP11,263,037.98 both savings and time deposits; and Rang-ay Bank with PHP15,079,904.59 savings accounts.

Prior to the latest resolution approved, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Laoag district office thru agent-in-charge Atty. Diosdado N. Araos filed a plunder case against Laoag City treasurer Elena V. Asuncion at the Office of the Ombudsman on February 23, 2017.

Sanctions were also imposed on city cashier Bella C. Santiago and others from the cash division Milagros R. Qiuape, Karen Mae Salvador-Racadio and Lani T. Ruiz, who wittingly or witting or unwittingly allowed themselves to be used by Mrs. Asuncion and who failed to safeguard the city government money in their custody and disposal.

Mr. Pascual was also included in the recommendation for administrative sanction for omission in the performance of his duties and functions as city accountant.