TACLOBAN CITY-For not remitting the town’s tax collections, the Office of Ombudsman ordered for the filing of malversation charge against a former mayor of San Sebastian in Samar. Recommended by the anti-graft court for the Sandiganbayan to prosecute for malversation of funds and violation of section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) was former mayor Arnold Abalos. The complaint against Abalos, who ended his second term as mayor of the town this year, stemmed from his failure to remit the tax collection of his town in the amount of P1,272,831.63 for the years 2008 and 2009. Also charged was municipal treasurer Virginia Uy. The failure of Abalos and Uy, both accountable officers for the funds of San Sebastian, to remit the tax collections gave rise to the presumption that respondents misappropriated the amount intended for the Bureau of International Revenue, the Ombudsman stated. (MEL CASPE/RYAN ARCENAS)
