This School Of Aeronautics’ Former President Is Guilty Of Unexplained Travel Expenses
FORMER SCHOOL PRESIDENT – Philippine State College of Aeronautics’ (or PhilSCA) former president was ordered to return a sum of P14,000 by the Sandiganbayan.
The former president failed to present receipts as proof of expenses for the P14000 worth of travel fund asked from the school. Sandiganbayan ordered the return of the said amount following the report.
This is according to an article from Inquirer.
A decision was made on April 12 by the Third Division to press charges against the former president Enerico Sampang. He was declared guilty of ‘failure to render accounts’.
This is a violation according to the Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code.
Enerico Sampang reportedly traveled to Zamboanga del Norte and stayed in a resort there back in March 2007.
With the purpose of a ‘three-day executive forum’ hosted by the Corona Management Center of the Philippines, he was awarded a cash advance of P14000 as fund for his travel expenses.
After a year following the former president’s trip, he has not provided any liquidation report to support his cash advance. This triggered the state auditors from the Commission on Audit or COA to forward a letter demanding the liquidation.
This was also expressed in a statement from the court:
“Two (2) Demand Letters dated December 23, 2011 and November 20,2012, respectively, were also sent to the accused by the COA State Auditors demanding the liquidation of the said amount.”
COA circular no. 97-002, Section 5.1 under “Liquidation of Cash Advances” states:
“within sixty (60) days after return to the Philippines in the case of foreign travel or within thirty (30) days after return to his permanent official station in the case of local travel, as provided for in EO 248 and COA Circular No. 96-004.”
Also,
“Failure of the AO to liquidate his cash advance within the prescribed period shall constitute a valid cause for the withholding of his salary and the instruction of other sanctions as provided for under paragraphs 9.2 and 9.3 hereof.”
Sampang also asserted himself by claiming that he has already provided the necessary document for liquidation and that the accusations were attempts to defame him.
He is also required to pay a P6000 fine and failure to comply could send him behind bars.
That is all there it to it, at least for now. We’ll post updates as soon as we got them.
