- GILBERT BAYORAN
Former acting Isabela municipal treasurer Nenette Escarda is back to work after her 60-day preventive suspension ended April 24, Provincial Legal Officer, Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr., said.
Escarda faces grave misconduct charges, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds, over the loss of about P6.4 million in government funds.
Nellas said Wednesday that the purpose of her preventive suspension was to safeguard evidences while the probe was being conducted, and this has already been done.
Escarda is now back to her work at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office after her relief from the Isabela Municipal Treasurer’s Office.
Nellas said they are now finalizing their investigation report for submission to Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his appropriate action.
Escarda alleged that the P6.4 million, both in cash and checks, was stolen inside her house in Bacolod City in January this year.
Nellas said the penalty for grave misconduct is dismissal from government service, based on the provisions of the Local Government Code.
“It is a heavy penalty. We need to verify the evidence,” he added.
Based on the rules of the Civil Service Commission, Nellas said Escarda has the right to appeal any decision.
Based on the cash examination by the Commission on Audit dated Jan. 31, Escarda also committed irregularities in her cash accountability such as the undeposited P6,629,146.18 in collections, as of Jan. 20, and the unliquidated cash advances, as of cut-off date, amounting to P972,000.
Nellas said that the municipality of Isabela also plans to press criminal charges against Escarda./GB
