The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in Western Visayas has not received yet a formal complaint on the P7.3 million allegedly missing from the vault of the City Treasurer’s Office of Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

The complaint should have been forwarded to the Secretary of the Department of Finance, BLGF 6 said.

The amount covers the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) for healthcare workers. Earlier, it was reported that the health workers expected the release of their hazard pay on August 27, 2024.

According to the initial investigation of the Local Government Unit (LGU), one of two vaults at the Treasurer’s Office was found to be empty. The other vault could not be opened because Juvy Pinongan, the city treasurer, forgot allegedly the code of the vault.

However, BLGF 6 made it clear that the complaint can also be filed at the Ombudsman or at the Civil Service Commission.

“In our level, once we receive complaint addressed to BLGF, then we can process that complaint by conducting preliminary investigation and resolve the case by formulating a corresponding resolution,” BLGF Region 6 Director Ma. Rhodora Gascon said.

When BLGF learned that the treasurer failed to report for duty, it immediately ordered that Pinongan return to her post. The treasurer was also ordered to explain on her absence from work.

“I gave her the time to explain in writing kung what happened, why was she absent during that time,” Gascon said.

BLGF appoints the treasurer for Local Government Units. However, according to Gascon, without a formal complaint they could not come up with an action.

The news team tried to get the latest information on the incident from the Sagay City LGU, but the city administrator, Atty. Ryan Bonghanoy, did not reply yet to the text messages sent to him and calls made.

BLGF 6 advised the Sagay City LGU to write to the Commission on Audit so a witness could be assigned in monitoring the process of opening the sealed vault to check if it still contains the money, or not.