Arroyo critic accused of malversation

A staunch critic of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who previously served as a director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes was charged Friday at the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office for his alleged failure to liquidate P735,549.26. The complaint was filed by PCSO Assistant General Manager for Administrator Maria Paz Magsalin and Assistant General Manager for Management of Budget and Accounting Department Benigno Aguas. Charged for malversation was Jose "Linggoy" Alcuaz Jr, of No. 13 Campanilla Street corner Balete Drive, New Manila, QC. In their complaint, they claimed that when Alcuaz was appointed as PCSO director on March 2001, he handled a monthly discretionary fund of P100,000 subject to government auditing rules and policies. During his term, Alcuaz made cash advances which remained unliquidated despite his termination from the service on Jan. 5, 2005. As of February 28, 2006, Alcuaz' unliquidated cash advances totalled P735,549.26 as indicated in a listing of cash advances furnished by the Budget and Accounting department to the Legal Department of PCSO. On August 26, 2005, Florante Hermida, liaison officer of the PCSO’s Legal Department personally delivered a demand letter to the house of Alcuaz but he was not able to deliver it since he was informed that the respondent was out of his house at the time. The PCSO Legal Department sent another demand letter through registered mail on Sept. 1, 2005 and it was duly received by Alcuaz. However, despite having duly received the demand letter, Alcuaz failed to fully liquidate his cash advances to the damage and prejudice of the PCSO. - GMANews.TV