The former mayor of San Jose, Antique has been charged with graft and malversation before the Sandiganbayan for his alleged failure to liquidate P685,477 worth of cash advances.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed one count each of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation of public funds as defined and penalized under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code against Fernando Corvera.
Based on the charge sheet, Corvera is accused of causing undue injury to the government when he failed to liquidate and return the cash advances he incurred from 1999 to 2007 which he received as part of his duties as municipal mayor.
"Despite demands made upon him to account for said public funds, accused had failed to do so," the charge sheet read.
The Ombudsman added then-municipal accountant Antonio Tordesillas certified the disbursement vouchers as complete of supporting documents, claiming that Corvera's cash advances were already liquidated.
It said the actions of Tordesillas enabled the "release and embezzlement" of the public funds to the damage and prejudice of the government.
A total bail bond of P70,000 has been recommended for each of the respondents in the case. —NB, GMA News