MANILA— The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of Dagupan City Treasurer Romelita Fonseca Alcantara over her involvement in the alleged procurement of two wooden motorboats that were paid for using public funds but were never delivered.

In its decision, the Ombudsman found Alcantara administratively liable for grave misconduct after she caused the release of ₱999,750 as full payment for the undelivered boats.

The case originated from a complaint filed by Bernard Cabison, Sanitation Inspector VI and head of the Waste Management Division, and Melchor Guiang, General Services Officer, who alleged that their signatures were forged in the Property Acknowledgment Receipt and Inspection and Acceptance Report used in the transaction.

The complainants said the supplier received full payment despite failing to deliver the motorboats to the city government.

Following its investigation, the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau recommended the filing of charges over the falsified documents allegedly used to facilitate the disbursement of public funds.

Investigators established that Alcantara participated in preparing the disbursement voucher and check that enabled the irregular release of ₱999,750 to the supplier.

The Ombudsman said Alcantara, in her capacity as city treasurer, was responsible for protecting government funds and ensuring that disbursements complied with applicable laws, rules and regulations.

It ruled that the release of public funds through falsified documents to pay for undelivered motorboats constituted malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, warranting a finding of grave misconduct.

“Respondent, in the performance of her official functions as City Treasurer, caused the irregular release of P999,750.00… resulting in the misappropriation of said amount since the motorboats for which the payment was made were not delivered,” the decision stated.

Aside from dismissal from government service, Alcantara was penalized with cancellation of her civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and a ban on taking civil service examinations.