THE Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday dismissed a Bohol mayor from government service over fake travel reimbursements.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales ordered the dismissal of former Cortes, Bohol Mayor Apolinaria Balistoy, who was also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Balistoy was also barred from taking the Civil Service Commission’s eligibility examinations.
She was found guilty of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and falsification of official document for defrauding the government.
The Ombudsman said Balistoy used falsified and dubious official receipts and certificates of attendance for four training modules to secure reimbursement of expenses for the trainings from May to October 2010.
In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondent’s one year salary.
“These certificates were used to obtain reimbursements for travel and training expenses totaling P155,789. However, the Field Investigation Office as complainant, presented documents that Balistoy attended meetings in the provinces, instead of the trainings in Metro Manila,” the resolution read.
“It would have been physically impossible for respondent to have been at three different and geographically distant places all on the same day.”