The vault at the Sagay City Treasurer’s Office was empty when it was opened on Friday afternoon, City Administrator Ryan Bonghanoy said on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The missing P7.3 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) intended for Sagay City health frontliners was missing, he said.
Mayor Narciso Javelosa ordered the opening of the vault, which was witnessed by the Commission on Audit (COA), Bonghanoy said.
City Treasurer Juvy Pinongan had been given 30 days’ notice by the COA to produce and liquidate the amount prior to the opening of the vault, he added.
The city government will include the information in its complaint against Pinongan before the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).
Since the Treasurer’s Office operates under the jurisdiction of the BLGF, the case will be referred to that office for appropriate action, Bonghanoy said.
It will be the BLGF that will decide if the treasurer should be replaced.
If Pinongan does not produce the amount she will also have a liability with the COA that could file a case against her for criminal liability, he said.*