Suplico files malversation raps vs 5 Capitol execs, 6 'job hires'
Five Capitol officials and six laborers of the Iloilo Provincial Government have been slapped with malversation of public funds by Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico.
Named respondents in a complaint docketed as I.S. No. 783-0 were Executive Assistant II Levy Buenavista, close aide of Governor Niel Tupas, Cristina Mogar, Administrative Officer III, Corazon Beloria, Assistant Provincial Treasurer, Antonio Muralla, Budget Officer IV and Francisco Heler Jr., of the Office of Economic Enterprise.
The laborers charged were Francis Lozada, Roland Tupas, Florudie Robles, Jonie Eler, Fredcar Macero and Fernando Gulmatico.
In a four-paged complaint obtained by The News Today (TNT), Vice Governor Suplico accused the eleven of illegal use and disbursement of public funds amounting to P13,582.80.
The Capitol officials turned respondents are held by Suplico liable for allegedly "conniving and confederating together and mutually helping each other, unlawfully and feloniously consented or through abandonment or negligence, permitted other persons" to take the questioned amount.
The "job hires" on the other hand, Suplico said, "connived and confederated with and mutually helped the public officers and employees named … as indispendable parties by their direct participation…in an unlawful and criminal act committed against public fund."
Serving as primary evidence submitted by the Vice Governor was a Certification made by lawyer Lorenzo Tubola, Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
"This is to certify that the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan ng Iloilo has not authorized the hiring through job orders for local projects of emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis……," excerpts of the Certification went.
Other evidences included payrolls and office orders submitted to the City Prosecutor's Office.
All eleven in the respondent-list were marked "at-large" with the Capitol as stated addresses.