The Office of the Ombudsman charged former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman and newly-elected Marikina City first district representative Bayani Fernando and five other officials with graft over the alleged misuse of funds intended for the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).
The five officials are MMDA Assistant General Manager Edenison Fainsan, Director Leonila Querijero, Consultant Rolando Josef, Chief Revenue Officer Cleofe Ablog and General Manager Robert Nacianceno, who are accused of irregular use of MMDA funds amounting to P24.2 million.
The allegations stemmed from a Commission of Audit report stating that Fernando received a P1.6 million as birthday cash gift, P11.8 million as expenses for cultural projects, and P10.8 million in cash incentives granted to the chairman and members of the Executive Committee of the MMFF.
"The respondents’ conspiratorial act of authorizing and approving the irregular payments and expenditures depleted the funds of the MMFF thereby causing it undue injury," said Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.
The COA also noticed the irregularities in MMFF fund distributions and lack of documentation such as official receipts issued by the local government units (LGUs) to prove receipt of funds alloted for cultural projects; absence of duly approved payrolls for the cash incentives; and issuance of the checks for cash incentives in the name of Ablog and on a pay-to-cash basis.
Fainsan and Querijero were found guilty of Ombudsman of grave misconduct hence their dismissal from service was ordered. The two also incurred penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits and cancellation of eligibility with bar from taking the civil service examination.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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