• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Provincial Tourism Officer Cherryl Decena and three other Negros Occidental provincial government employees were strongly admonished by the Provincial Legal Office, in connection with discrepancies in the signatures of 12 payees who performed in the 28th Panaad sa Negros Week celebration and Employees night in April this year.
Decena, disbursing officers Jacqueline dela Gente and Roxane Gajo, as well as Cashier II Ron Importante, were issued with show cause orders to explain the alleged discrepancies in the signatures of 12 Panaad sa Negros performers, which raised suspicions that they were forged.
In her explanations, Decena said that the honorarium was disbursed by the disbursing officers, with other Tourism officers and witnesses within the immediate vicinity, and some released as witnessed by members of the Secretariat committee.
At the same time, she also submitted machine copies of notarized pro forma certification from the payees, which attested that they personally received the honorarium and that their signatures are authentic.
Dela Gente, Gajo, and Importante also submitted their respective replies that the payrolls in question were signed by the payees themselves, substantiated by the duly notarized certifications they had executed.
Based on the facts presented, Atty. Ricca Joy Resula, the Provincial Legal Office Investigating Officer, said the respondents sufficiently addressed the orders concerning the alleged discrepancies in payee signatures on the two payrolls by providing explanations and notarized certifications from the payees.
These documents presented proof that the honorariums were personally received and that the signatures were authentic, Resula further said, adding “the presence of notarized certifications indicates that the proper procedures were followed, negating any suspicion of forgery.”
She added “it is essential that the respondents exercise greater diligence in identifying discrepancies and addressing them directly with those facilitating the signing, rather than certifying their authenticity without proper verification.”
Despite their satisfactory resolution of the specific discrepancies, it is imperative to uphold the principles set forth in RA 6713, known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Resula said.
To reinforce these standards and ensure that such incidents do not recur, the respondents’ actions are strongly reprimanded, she added.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. yesterday said that they dismissed it based on the lack of substantial evidence, as respondents were able to justify discrepancies in the signatures.
However, they have been warned that they should be compliant on submitted documents in order to avoid such investigations.
Decena and five other staff members of the Mambukal Resort and Wildlife Sanctuary in Murcia, are also being probed by the Provincial Legal Office for alleged unliquidated cash advances.
Nellas also stressed that the issuance of show cause orders to some employees and executives at the Provincial Capitol “is nothing personal.”
Several Capitol executives and employees have been dismissed under the administration of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for various offenses.*
