Mayor Alejandro Gamos of Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon, is being tried before the Sandiganbayan for Malversation of Public Funds for his failure to liquidate cash advances drawn from 2004-2007. Also being tried for Malversation are municipal accountant Roselyn Gile and municipal treasurer Virginia Laco.
A special audit done by the Commission on Audit revealed that a total of 52 cash advances with no stated purpose amounting to P8.207M was received by Gamos from 2004 to 2007. As of 2008, P2,770,589.60 remained unaccounted for. In January 2007, Gamos took out another cash advance amounting to P400,000 which remains unliquidated and was found to be unrecorded in the books of accounts.
The COA issued demand letters to Gamos in November 2008 and March 2009 but he failed to heed the order for liquidation and settlement.
“Respondent mayor Gamos had custody of said cash advances by reason of his office for which he is accountable. By failing to liquidate the same despite demand by the COA, a prima facie presumption arises that he misappropriated the said amount” stated the Order. ###