By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Office (PLO) will try its best to release its decision on former Isabela municipal treasurer within her 60-day preventive suspension.

PLO head Atty. Alberto Nellas, Jr. said Nennette Escarda chose to submit her position paper instead of the formal investigation hearing.

Escarda was suspended as municipal treasurer of Isabela after losing P6.4 million in government funds in an alleged burglary.

It was later determined that Escarda was not authorized by Isabela town Mayor Irene Montilla to bring home the funds, as another person was assigned to deposit the funds in the bank.

Nellas said Escarda was given 10 days to submit a position paper.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson also gave her three days to answer charges and to submit additional evidence or bring witnesses.

The PLO head is confident that the case will be resolved within the timeframe of Escarda’s preventive suspension, which took into effect on February 23.

Aside from the 60-day suspension, Escarda was also slapped with administrative charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and malversation of public funds last month.

On January 21, Escarda reported to Police Station 6 that her house in Bacolod City’s Barangay Taculing was allegedly burglarized.

She said robbers carted away P3.8 million in bank checks and cash amounting to P2.6 million./DGB, WDJ