MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has indicted before the Sandiganbayan a former mayor of Tayasan, Negros Oriental for his alleged failure to liquidate a total of PHP95,000 in cash advances to cover for his various expenses in 2006 and 2008.
The Ombudsman accused former Tayasan, Negros Oriental Mayor Anthony Isidro Bayawa III of “willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously (failing) to liquidate or render an account of public funds”.
The anti-graft body said Bayawa made a PHP30,000 cash advance for his travel to Manila from Jan. 26 to 27, 2006 and PHP25,000 for expenses for the “Pasalamat De Tayasan Festival 2007”.
The then Tayasan mayor also received PHP40,000 to cover his attendance at the Orientation of the Newly-Elected Municipal Local Chief Executives in Cagayan de Oro City from Jan. 30, 2008 to Feb. 3, 2008.
The anti-graft body added Bayawa had failed to liquidate all the cash advances more than two months after the 30-day period required by the Commission on Audit had lapsed.
The Ombudsman recommended a bail bond totaling PHP18,000 for the temporary liberty of Bayawa. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
