MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has ordered a former town mayor in Zamboanga del Norte province to pay a PHP6,000 fine for failing to render account for her travel expenses in 2010 to 2012.
The anti-graft court found former La Libertad, Zamboanga del Norte Mayor Anjanette Sulit guilty of violation of Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code, or the “failure of accountable officer to render accounts”.
Under Article 218 of the RPC, failure to render accounts by any public officer, whether in the service or separated from the service, is punishable by prision correccional in its minimum period, or a fine ranging from PHP200 to PHP6,000, or both.
Court records showed that from July 2, 2010 to Oct. 15, 2012, Sulit received PHP92,476.13 in cash advance for travel expenses and repeatedly failed to render account for the funds within the period required by the Commission on Audit.
During the arraignment, Sulit, who was assisted by counsel, changed her plea from “not guilty” to “guilty” after affirming to the anti-graft court that she understood the nature of the accusation and the consequences of a guilty plea.
She also presented a certification dated Feb. 19, 2018, showing that she returned the amount of PHP92,476.13 to the municipal government in fulfillment of the conditions set by the prosecution. (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
