EX-SURIGAO DEL NORTE GOVERNOR AT PROVINCIAL BUDGET OFFICER KINASUHAN NG OMBUDSMAN

Kinasuhan ng Ombudsman sina dating Surigao Del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas at Provincial Budget Officer Ma. Myrla Padayhag hinggil sa ginawa ng mga itong illegal na paglilipat ng P60 milyon pondo na laan sa disaster management ay inilagay sa panggastos para sa kagamitang pang-edukasyon.

Ang 2 ay lumabag sa Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019 as amended batay sa inihaing reklamo ni Oscar Pospia Jr noong June 6, 2023 at sa resolusyong ginawa ni Ombudsman Samuel Martirezay ipinunto nito na.., “Evidently, there was no ordinance authorizing Matugas to augment and transfer funds. Hence, the realignment and disbursement of funds amounting to a total of PHP 60 million used in the procurement of the Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) mainstreamed learning materials and the supplementar learning materials had NO BASIS and, therefore, ILLEGAL.”

Lumalabas na ang Surigao Del Norte government ay.lumagda ng 3 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) para sa 3 local School Division Superintendents na ang provincial funds na nagkakahalaga ng P60 milyon ay trinansfer sa DepEd para sa pagbili ng multi-milyong pisong halaga ng mga libro at iba pang learning materials para sa elementary school children.

Nasasaad sa batas na ang provincial governor ay may karapatan para magpahintilot sa financial assistance para sa mga ahensiya tulad ng DepEd ay ipinunto ng Ombudsman na Ang diverted funds na sumaklaw sa sinuong na MOA sa pagitan ni Matugas at DepEd ay kinuha mula sa pondo ng Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) gayong wala namang pondong inilaan ang PDRRMO para sa DeoEd financial assistance.

“Matugas and Padayhag cannot evade liability by citing an irrelevant DILG Memorundum Circular (authority to transfer funds) since the fund was intended to be utilized by the PDRRMO as the implementing office and not the DepEd,” pagpapaliwanag ng Ombudsman.

“The brazenly committed illegal acts, despite the overwhelming disaster aftermath, speaks of the gross callousness and total indifference of the Matugases against the people of Surigao del Norte,” pahayag naman ni Pospia Jr.

“At that time of devastation, we needed roofs over our heads, clean and safe drinking water and classroom repairs, yet while we were in terrible anguish, the assistance given were storybooks of “Joy Joy the Jolly Boy”, “Mimi and the Mouse” and other similar books for school children,” dagdag pa ni Pospia Jr.