Dagupan City treasurer dismissed over P1-M ‘ghost’ motorboats purchase

Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — The Ombudsman has dismissed Dagupan City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara over the procurement of two “ghost” wooden motorboats worth nearly P1 million.

In a statement Wednesday, the Ombudsman said Alcantara is administratively liable for grave misconduct after she triggered the release of P999,750 in full payment for two motorboats that the city government never received.

It said the irregular release of the funds “[resulted] in the misappropriation of said amount since the motorboats for which the payment was made were not delivered.” 

Aside from her dismissal, Alcantara also faces civil service eligibility cancellation, retirement benefits forfeiture, perpetual disqualification from public service, and civil service examination prohibition.

The case arose from a complaint lodged by Sanitation Inspector and Waste Management Division Head Bernard Cabison and General Services Officer Melchor Guiang.

They said that their signatures in the Property Acknowledgment Receipt and Inspection and Acceptance Report were forged and led to the supplier getting the full payment.

The Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau pushed for the filing of charges against Alcantara for falsification of documents.

Investigators stressed that the treasurer had a hand in the preparation of the disbursement voucher and check for the payment.

According to the Ombudsman, the irregular disbursement constituted malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents.