Region NEWS RELEASE
Refer to Dexter A. See
Suggested Title:
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A 68-year old former government worker who went on Absence Without Leave (AWOL) after being charged for eleven counts of malversation charges due to reported missing government funds amounting to over P4 million, was successfully arrested by combined police operatives in Tiptop, Ambuklao Road, Baguio City around 9 am Monday.
Senior Superintendent David Q. Lacdan, Officer-In-Charge of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, identified the arrested wanted government employee as Esther Sison Pagano, 688, married, former employee of the Benguet Treasury Office, a resident of No. 30 Carino Street, Baguio City and a native of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur.
The arrested government worker was taken by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Marybelle Demot-Marinas of the Regional Trial court (RTC) Branch 8 here for eleven counts of alleged malversation of public funds with a recommended bail of P50,000 per count of the charges.
The implementation of the warrant, which was issued by the court on August 3, 2007 and received by the provincial investigation branch on March 10, 2015, was implemented by elements of the Benguet Provincial Intelligence Branch and intelligence operatives of the La Trinidad Municipal Police station (MPS).
Before being turned over to the issuing court, Pagano was subjected to medical examination at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) and was subsequently admitted due to heart problems but she will be presented to the court once she will be discharged.
Several personnel of the La Trinidad MPS and Benguet Provincial Jail were initially detailed to look after the safety and security of Ms. Pagano while recovering in the hospital.
The case against Ms. Pagano stemmed from the reported over P4 million in missing government funds at the Benguet Treasury Office and which was subsequently traced through proper auditing that the missing funds were supposed to be in her custody.
The wanted government employee then reportedly went on hiding after the discovery of the missing funds in the provincial government coffers.
By Dexter A. See