Ex-Cagayan mayor gets 10 years for withholding employees’ pay

Rappler.com

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Ex-Cagayan mayor gets 10 years for withholding employees’ pay
The Office of the Ombudsman says former Buguey town mayor Ignacio Taruc is also perpetually barred from holding public office

CAGAYAN, Philippines –The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former Cagayan town mayor to 10 years in jail after it found him guilty of graft for withholding the salaries of several employees in 2007.

In its decision, the Sandiganbayan said Taruc “demonstrated his perverse motive or ill-will to complainants, known appointees of his political rival, by his refusal to sign the check [representing their salaries].”

The anti-graft court found Taruc guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by 5 Buguey government employees against Taruc when he was still town mayor.

The Ombudsman said the complainants are entitled to receive their salaries as they have valid appointments and that they rendered services for the months of July and August 2007, as shown by their respective Daily Time Record and employee logbook.

‘Politics’

Taruc, who made a failed bid for Cagayan governor in May, dismissed the charges against him as “politically-motivated.”

In an interview on Thursday, August 11, Taruc told Rappler that he refused to sign the checks representing the salaries of the complainants because they are not under his “authority.”

Taruc said the employees are working for the legislative branch and the vice mayor should warrant their salaries.

Taruc and Vice Mayor Licerio Antiporda are known political enemies.

He said Section 445 of the Local Government Code states that the vice mayor “…shall sign all warrants drawn on the municipal treasury for all expenditures appropriated for the operation of the sangguniang bayan (municipal council).”

He said Antiporda has been “frequently” absent so the employees turned to him for the signing of checks, which, he said, is not under his authority. – Raymon Dullana/Rappler.com

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