THE Sandiganbayan convicted a former cashier of the National Food Authority (NFA) of malversation and sentenced to a maximum of 17 years in prison in connection with the loss of P10.105 million stolen in 2008.
In its 19-page decision dated March 1, the Sandiganbayan’s First Division found Maria Theresa Gutierrez, a former cashier of the NFA’s North District Office (NDO) in Valenzuela City, guilty of the crime and ordered her to pay the government P10.1 million representing the amount lost.
The decision was written by Associate Justice Efren Dela Cruz.
Court records showed that on May 30, 2008, a break-in took place in the NFA office, resulting in the loss of P10.105 million in cash representing collections from the sale of NFA rice, licensing fees, and other payables related to NFA transactions.
The cash was left inside a wooden cabinet instead of the office vault, which only contained part of the collections amounting to P790,772 and still had space for more cash, according to online site abogado.com.ph
The robbers who were not caught did not touch the vault.
In its decision, the Sandiganbayan cited the Supreme Court ruling in precedent cases stating that a government cashier “who is found negligent in keeping the funds in his or her custody cannot be relieved from his or her accountability for amounts lost through robbery.”
Gutierrez was thus “liable for the funds lost on the occasion of the robbery,” the court ruled.
