By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The former treasurer of Negros Occidental’s Isabela town responded to the show cause order issued by the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) in connection to the allegedly stolen P7 million of cash and checks owned by the municipal government last month.

PLO head Atty. Alberto Nellas, Jr. said former municipal treasurer Neneth Escarda submitted her answer to the order last February 7.

Nellas said the PLO began its preliminary investigation after receiving the endorsement from the Provincial Administrator’s Office.

He expects that they will be able to find out the results of the investigation in 20 days, and they are working to finish the probe at the earliest as Escarda failed to present any additional evidence except for the letter of explanation.

Escarda still reports to work at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Nellas said.

Administrative charges could also be filed against the former treasurer depending on the outcome of the investigation.

On January 21, Escarda approached Police Station 6 in Bacolod City to complain that her house in the city’s Barangay Taculing had been allegedly burglarized.

The robbers carted away P3.8 million in bank checks, as well as cash amounting to P2.6 million.

It was later found that Escarda was not authorized to bring home the municipal government’s funds to her home in Bacolod City as another person was assigned to deposit the funds in the bank.

Earlier this month, she had already expressed deep regret over the incident and gave assurances to Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla and Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz that she had not taken anything from the government./DGB, WDJ