The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against former top local government officials of Malabon City for their participation in the payroll padding incident in 2013. Facing six counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Sandiganbayan are Edgardo Casimero (former Chief of the City Human Resources and Management Development Department), Rosa Vilma De Jesus (Administrative Officer II), Magdalena Sebulino (Bookbinder) and Rosalie Bernardo (Administrative Aide VI). Casimero et. al. are facing six additional counts of Estafa through Falsification.
In a Resolution approved on 19 January 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman found that from December to January 2013, a total of P1.14million of overpayment was credited to the salaries of Bernardo and De Jesus.
The Commission on Audit (COA) issued an Audit Observation Memorandum citing a Bank Confirmation Letter from Landbank of the Philippines, Malabon branch, certifying that “an overpayment of P60,000 each for the payroll periods January 16-31, 2013 and February 1-15,2013; P90,000.00 each for September 16-30, 2013, November 1-15,2013 and December 1-15, 2013; and P180,000 each for payroll period December 16-31, 2013 or a total of P570,000.00 each was credited to the payroll accounts of Bernardo and De Jesus.”
It was determined that De Jesus was entitled to receive only a net pay of P2,919.50 for the first 15 days and P1,002.16 for the next fifteen days. On the other hand, Bernardo’s net pay for the first half of the month was only P5,161.00 and P5,016.93 for the second half.
In his counter-affidavit, Casimero claimed that “his signatures in the ATM payroll were forged and falsified” and that “he did not know the password for the Financial Data Entry System (FINDES),” which is Malabon’s payroll system.
On the other hand, De Jesus admitted in her counter-affidavit that “she was persuaded by Bernardo to agree to her plan of increasing the amount of their salary in their ATM card” because she “was assured that it would be done smoothly.”
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ruled that due to the “fraudulent tampering of payroll, the local government of Malabon City released excessive amounts to the payroll accounts of Bernardo and De Jesus, hence, causing damage to Malabon City.” She added that “respondents Sebulino, Casimero, Bernardo and De Jesus conspired with one another to tamper and pad the payroll in favor of Bernardo and De Jesus.”
The complaint against city treasurer Amalia Santos was dismissed due to lack of probable cause. ###