Because of P30, Ombudsman fires South Cotabato town treasurer

COTABATO CITY, Aug. 29 (NDBC) -- A town treasurer in South Cotabato was dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged falsification of official receipts and failure to submit and account to more than P700,000 in government funds.Dismissed was Samuel Sunico, Tupi municipal treasurer after the Ombudsman found him guilty of administrative charges of misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.The Commission on Audit, in its narrative report on the cash and count examination, said Sunico allegedly incurred a total shortage of P717,812.79 from November 27, 2007 to June 17, 20108.Sunico, according to COA report, falsified a government-issued official receipts by making it appear in the duplicate and triplicate copies that a payment of a P30 only was made when, in fact, the original copy of the receipt shows that Dole Philippines paid taxes to the local government unit in the amount of P344,379.77.It was not known whether Sunico is still in government service. (NDBC)