For failure to liquidate his cash advances amounting to P62,200.00, Renato Caluag, former general manager and chief operating officer of People’s Television Network, Incorporated (PTV4) pleaded guilty before the Sandiganbayan for violation of Article 218 of the Revised Penal Code (Failure to Render Accounts). By virtue of his plea, Caluag admitted the material allegations in the Information filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In an Order penned by Associate Justice Efren dela Cruz, the anti-graft court ordered Caluag to pay PTV4 P62,200.00 corresponding to the amount he failed to liquidate and fined him P500.00.
The accused received the amount in January 2012 to defray the reproduction cost of a pilot episode featuring proposed PTV4 flagship programs.
Article 218 punishes any public officer, whether in the service or separated therefrom by resignation or any other cause, who is required by law or regulation to render account to auditor, but failed to do so for a period of two months after such accounts should be rendered. ###