The Sandiganbayan Special Third Division has affirmed the decision made by the Regional Trial Court Branch 55 of Lucena City Presiding Judge Agripino Bravo, acquitting former Department of Foreign Affairs Regional Consular Office – Lucena finance officer Ana Liza Villanueva of malversation.Villanueva was initially charged with malversation of public funds for reportedly misappropriating P3,710,200, which made up the daily collections of the DFA – RCO.
The prosecution argued that Villanueva admitted that she assumed the position of finance officer on July 16 to August 16, 2009, and she likewise assumed the duties of a collecting officer. From that time period, she received a total cash collection of P7,748,700 but she only deposited P3,617,100 and remitted to her successor the amount of P571,100. As a result, there was a cash shortage of P3,710,200.
“These circumstances made with the public respondent conclude that undeposited collections were already prevalent in DFA Lucena even before private respondent assumed the post as finance officer,” the decision stated.