Isabela mayor mulls criminal charges vs ex-treasurer

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Alberto Nellas said Wednesday that Isabela town mayor Dr. Irene Consunji-Montilla is mulling criminal charges against former town treasurer Nenette Escarda.

Nellas said that the provincial government will cooperate and help the municipal government of Isabela if it decides to push through with the criminal charges.

Escarda is facing administrative charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and malversation of public funds filed by the PLO.

The charges were filed against Escarda after she reportedly brought home funds from the town’s treasury amounting to P2.6 million in cash and P3.8 million in checks without authority from the chief executive.

She alleged that the cash and checks were stolen from her house.

A cash examination conducted by the Commission on Audit dated January 31, 2023 found that P6,629,146.18 in collections remained undeposited as of January 20, 2023 and P972,000 in cash advances remained unliquidated as of the cut-off date under her watch, Nellas said.

Nellas said Escarda is back to her post at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office after her 60-day preventive suspension that ended on April 24, 2023. She will remain there until Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson decides on her case.

He further said that Escarda faces possible dismissal from the service if she is found guilty of the grave misconduct charge.

Nellas further said that it will be final and executory.

But he said Escarda can appeal the case with the Civil Service Commission.