• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Sagay City Treasurer Juvy Pinongan was ordered by the Commission on Audit to liquidate the P22 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) intended for healthcare workers, who rendered services during the Covid-19 pandemic.
City Administrator Ryan Bonghanoy said the order came after it was discovered by COA representatives on Oct. 4 that the City Treasurer’s Office vault, which was opened in the presence of Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. and the staff of City Legal Office and CTO, was empty.
Pinongan failed to distribute the remaining P7.3 million out of the P22 million HEA allocation for healthcare workers.
Javelosa earlier said Pinongan told him that she forgot the combination of the vault where the money was allegedly being kept.
The CLO is preparing an affidavit- complaint against Pinongan for endorsement to the Bureau of Local Government Finance, in connection with the alleged missing P7.3 million HEA funds.
Bonghanoy said that Pinongan has a criminal liability if she fails to liquidate the amount within 30 days.
He added that Pinongan is still reporting for duty.
The hiring of a city treasurer is within the jurisdiction of the BLGF, which should also be the one to issue an order for the replacement of Pinongan, he added. | GB
