The vault at the Sagay City Treasurer’s Office was opened, but the P7.3 million was not found there.

The vault was opened using a code combination held by the Sagay City Treasurer’s Office on Friday, October 4, 2024 where the P7.3 million fund for the Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) of health workers was kept supposedly.

The fund was expected to be released in the August 2024 payout. 

“Ang combination was with (her) admin officer. It was also the treasurer na nag-open ng combination. Holding ng combination itself. Nang i-nopen, wala siyang laman. It was mayor, our city legal – si Atty. Brent, Atty. Emman of COA [Commission on Audit] and his personnel, ako rin,” Atty. Ryan Bonghanoy, Sagay City administrator, said.

Juvy Pinongan, city treasurer, was asked about the missing money, but she did not answer.

Before the vault was opened, the COA has already sent a demand letter to Pinongan to submit a liquidation on a total of P22 million in HEA fund within 30 days. 

“Iyan ang sabi niya, wala daw. Again, kung ma-produce niya ang ma-liquidate niya, we will give that information also to BLGF [Bureau of Local Government Finance] kung mag-file kami sa BLGF,” Atty. Bonghanoy said.