Foes ready graft rap vs Among Ed Tonette Orejas Philippine Daily Inquirer
August 13, 2008
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Pampanga Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao and the provincial board have ordered the local finance committee to submit financial documents in preparation for the filing of a technical malversation case against Gov. Eddie Panlilio.
Guiao issued the order to the committee and announced the plan to file the case during the regular session of the board at the capitol here on Monday.
“Based on the admission of Governor Panlilio [in a public dialogue in July] that he used portions of the funds of the office of the governor for the operations of other offices, it appears that he mishandled or juggled the funds and therefore is guilty of technical malversation,” Guiao said in open session.
In the televised “Dayalogo sa Kapitolyo” last month, Panlilio said his office supported the operations of the quarry special committee, information system, arts, culture and tourism, and public information.
The board, he said, did not allocate operational funds for these units that are under his office.
In Monday’s session, Guiao also said the requests of Panlilio for a P13.5-million supplemental budget for his office was “highly irregular” because the amount was higher than its original budget of P9.5 million.
“This is going to be a hindrance to the request of the governor to be granted a supplemental budget,” he said.
A previous request by Panlilio to transfer the P22.5-million budget for the salaries of 187 quarry employees from the office of the provincial treasurer to the governor’s office also violated the budget ordinance for 2008, Guiao said.
Provincial accountant Benjamin Yuzon said this was not actually implemented.
Guiao and the board announced the plan to file the case after Panlilio had left the session hall.
