Isabela to file criminal charges vs. Escarda

The Municipal Government of Isabela will file criminal charges against dismissed provincial government employee Nenette Escarda, Mayor Irene Montilla said yesterday.

“She should be held liable and accountable for the cash and checks she was in possession of them,” Montilla said.

She said that they are in talks with Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr, the provincial legal officer regarding the Escarda case.

“Up to this day we have not fully recovered the missing checks. Majority of the checks have been recovered but not everything. But the cash, nothing,” the mayor said.

She added that only P3.1 million worth of checks have been recovered by the Isabela municipal government.

“Some agencies have not re-issued checks yet. They are waiting for 120 days for the checks to be considered stale,” she also said.

Montilla also said they cannot trace back some of the checks because some checks have no receipt numbers and names.

An investigation is still ongoing regarding the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on unliquidated cash advances, she said.

Montilla said that she considers the decision of Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to dismiss Escarda “a fair decision as it is evidenxe-based. ”

Gov. Lacson, in a decision dated May 7 ordered the dismissal of the erstwhile acting municipal treasurer of Isabela town for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds.

She was also perpetually disqualified from holding public office, barred from civil service examinations and her retirement benefits were forfeited.

Escarda was charged for the unauthorized removal of P2,600,000 in cash and P3,800,000 in checks from the Municipal Treasurer’s Office of Isabela, which she claimed was then stolen from her house.

The Commission on Audit also discovered irregularities in her cash accountabilities – collections totaling P6,629,146 remained undeposited as of Jan. 20, 2023, and cash advances of P972,000 were unliquidated as of cut off date.

On Jan. 21, Escarda claimed thieves entered her house through a window and got the money she was supposed to bring to the bank.

She was put under a 60-day preventive suspension which ended on April 24.

Escarda was reporting at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, after her relief from Isabela Municipal Treasurer’s Office.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)