7 CIW officials, personnel face charges over missing trust fund

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. on Wednesday ordered the filing of criminal, administrative and civil cases against two former Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) superintendents and five other personnel over alleged irregularities in the handling of funds for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

In a statement, Catapang said the directive followed an investigation by the Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation (DII) into the missing funds.

Catapang approved the recommendation to initiate administrative proceedings before the BuCor Office of Internal Affairs Service against Senior Superintendents Daisy Sevilla-Castillote and Marjorie Ann Sanidad, Corrections Officer 2 Bianca Flor Ramos, and Corrections Officers 1 Maryrose Abucay, Madel Figuerres, Gloria Lakisa and Charlot Jennifer Carreon.

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READ: CHR clarifies reports on PDLs’ missing trust fund

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In its report dated Aug. 30, the DII found that Ramos, who served as CIW trust fund officer, could not account for P5.15 million in the PDL Trust Fund.

However, the final audit report of the parallel investigation conducted by the BuCor Internal Audit Service Unit on Aug. 25 reflected an unaccounted amount of P6.4 million without deducting the more than P1.2 million accounted amount yet to be collected or listed as receivables.

Catapang said a second review would be conducted to reconcile the difference.

Castillote, meanwhile, would face administrative proceedings for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct during her tenure as CIW superintendent.

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According to the investigation, she failed to exercise the required diligence in supervising, monitoring, reconciling and maintaining institutional control over the trust fund.

She also failed to comply with the BuCor PDL Trust Fund policy, the primary guideline governing the fund’s management, responsibility, monitoring and supervision.

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Restrictions violated

The investigation further alleged that Castillote expressly authorized the use of trust fund money to renovate and improve the CIW multipurpose hall, overseer’s office and Investigation and Verification Section Unit, violating restrictions on the administration, use and disposition of trust fund resources.

Sanidad, who served as acting CIW superintendent before Castillote’s appointment, was also cited for authorizing the advancement of P300,000 from the Trust Fund to cover an LBC remittance intended for PDLs that reportedly had not been properly transmitted. The transaction was likewise deemed inconsistent with existing policies governing the use and disposition of trust fund resources.

On the other hand, Abucay, who was designated as the incoming CIW trust fund officer, was cited for deficiencies related to the turnover of duties. These included the absence of a formal turnover document, the lack of independent witnesses during the turnover of cash and other accountabilities, and her failure to ensure the adequate documentation and verification of funds subsequently discovered after the turnover.

The investigation also identified deficiencies involving Figuerres, Lakisa and Carreon in performing their duties as trust fund staff. These included lapses in the recording, documentation, monitoring, reconciliation, maintenance and verification of trust fund transactions and related records.

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The BuCor said the personnel’s collective shortcomings contributed to weaknesses in the accuracy, reliability and accountability of trust fund documentation. —Reports from PNA, Andrea Gregorio and Sheridan Delfino