The Office of the Ombudsman is set to file malversation and graft charges against former Comelec Director for Finance Services Gideon De Guzman for allegedly failing to liquidate P44.3 million he received from 1998 to 2007.
According to a press statement, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the filing of 46 counts of malversation of public funds, and violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against De Guzman.
The Ombudsman found that De Guzman failed to liquidate cash advances worth P44.3 million for “various expenditures ranging from expenses for conferences and meetings, and food allowances to gifts and tokens.”
In 2008, a series of demand letters to liquidate the amount were sent to him, but were ignored, it added.
“[De Guzman’s] failure to settle and liquidate the P44,332,613.67 despite repeated demands raises the presumption that he has either appropriated, took, misappropriated or through abandonment or negligence allowed another person to take them,” the Ombudsman said.
“Malversation is committed when a public officer, who has custody of funds or property by reason of the duties of his office and to which he is accountable, appropriated, took, misappropriated or consented or, through abandonment or negligence, permitted another person to take these funds or property,” the Ombudsman explained.
Section 3 (e) involves, “causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference in the discharge of his official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence.”
