Photo by Dulce Valenzuela
Ilocos Norte provincial treasurer and BLGF local representative Josephine P. Calajate (middle) leads the inspection of documents at the office of former Laoag City treasurer Elena Asuncion to help in the investigation of the missing PHP85.4 million from the city government’s coffers while city treasurer Diomedes Gayban (standing left) and other city hall employees look on. (Photo by Dulce Valenzuela)
By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—After five years of being padlocked and off-limits to everyone, the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Finance (DOF)-Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) have approved the re-opening of the padlocked City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) on June 22, 2021.
Laoag Vice Mayor Vicentito M. Lazo said the opening of the sealed office was approved and signed by the local COA and BLGF representatives in response to the twin resolutions passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod addressed to the COA and the DOF for the inspection of the padlocked office of then city treasurer Elena Asuncion, who absconded after the missing money was discovered.
The twin resolutions, sponsored by Laoag councilor Juan Conrado A. Respicio and co-sponsored by all members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod aim to inventory the city government properties at the CTO and preserve important documents so they can use the said office space.
Lazo believes and hopes that the opening of said office will help solve and fast track the investigation of the missing PHP85.4 million during the time of Asuncion.
The padlocked office was opened in the presence of Laoag City COA officer and audit team leader Grace Dangcil, BLGF representative and provincial treasurer Josephine Calajate, newly appointed city treasurer Diomedes Gayban, Lazo and other city hall officials.
In an interview with Lazo, he said there are two other vaults which they have yet to open as the COA and BLGF representatives recommended that they call experts who can open them without damaging the vaults and whatever are inside them.
Lazo also disclosed that if they find Asuncion’s personal effects in the office, they will also subject them for inventory.
The vice mayor also clarified that he has yet to file any charges against Asuncion; but he noted that when he will do so, he will include city accountant Edgar Pascual, the former COA office in Laoag and former Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas.
He also mentioned that he considers the CTO reopening as a “big achievement” for the 11th Sanggunian Panlungsod, as the office was padlocked in 2016, five years ago.
After the CTO’s re-opening and inventory, the local COA and BLGF representatives resealed the office again.
“No iti bukod ko a kapanpanunutan, pagbalinek a museum tapnu saan a malipatan iti siyudad iti Laoag aginggana kadagiti sumarsaruno a kaputotan at a certain point in time ket natakawan iti PHP85.4 million because of the neglect of certain officials,” Lazo voiced out.
But since the newly appointed city treasurer also needs his own office, city officials decided that Gayban will use the office but they will bar the door placed that leads to the parking lot; as this not allowed under the government’s current rules and regulations.
Calajate, for her part, said she also hopes that whatever properties and documents, including certificates of time deposits, deposit slips, old passbooks and others that they may find will help in the on-going COA investigation.
Meanwhile, Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon said he will not comment on the CTO’s reopening as the Lazo and council are already attending to the issue.
“Let’s see what happens. It’s too premature for me to say anything. Let’s just see what happens,” Keon said.