Sagay City Administrator Atty. Ryan Bonghanoy confirmed that the vault at the City Treasurer’s Office, where the missing P7.3 million Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) was supposed to be stored, was found empty.
The P7.3 million is part of the P22 million HEA meant for health workers who served during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sagay City.
The allowance had not been released by City Treasurer Jovy Pinongan, prompting Mayor Narciso Javelosa Jr. to seek alternative means to distribute the funds to the health workers.
Pinongan claimed that he forgot the password to the vault, preventing its opening.
Bonghanoy revealed that before the vault was opened, the Commission on Audit (COA) had sent a demand letter to Pinongan, requiring him to liquidate the budget within 30 days.
If Pinongan fails to liquidate the funds, he could face an administrative case and be held accountable by the COA.
For now, Pinongan continues to work at the City Treasurer’s Office despite the ongoing investigation.