2 NBI personnel convicted of clearance fraud

MANILA, Philippines – Two National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel assigned to the bureau’s Quezon City satellite office were found guilty of malversation and violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

Ramil Rodriguez, officer-in-charge of the satellite office, and Elizabeth Sobrevilla, chief cashier, were found to have conspired to carry out their fraudulent scheme of taking missing collections and lending money to other people.

NBI operatives in 2006 conducted a surprise cash count at the NBI-QC satellite office and found that “several booklets of used original receipts were kept inside the vault but with no corresponding cash payments,” a press statement from the Office of the Ombudsman said on Tuesday, November 3.

The Office of the Ombudsman said they were able to establish that the accused failed to duly account for 120 booklets (8,195 pieces) of official receipts and to remit upon demand the collection of clearance fees amounting to P942,425.00.

A 20-page decision penned by QC Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Sta Cruz Jr said that the “existence of conspiracy is very evident from the acts of accused Ramil Rodriguez and Elizabeth Sobrevilla.”

Rodriguez allowed Sobrevilla “unhampered access to the vault, located inside his office, where the subject used official receipts and corresponding amount were supposed to be safe-kept. He should not have given a subaltern such blanket discretion. Evidently, such actions are tantamount to gross negligence on his part,” the decision read.

Ombudsman prosecutors proved that Sobrevilla took the missing collections and lent the money to others.

The two accused were meted a jail term of 1-5 years for violation of Section 3(e) of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act, and 10 years and a day as minimum up to 18 years, 8 months and one day as maximum for malversation. They were also ordered to pay a fine of P942,425 and were perpetually disqualified from holding public office.

The NBI-QC satellite office’s liaison officer, Raul Angeles, was acquitted of the charges, the press statement said. – Rappler.com