Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday said if former Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. fails to settle the unsettled cash advances of P710,026.54 during his term, charges will be filed against him for malversation of public funds.

Peña in a letter to Mondia said as of June 30, 2007 he had unsettled cash advances for his travels and other purposes totaling P591,480.94 from the General Fund, P27,011 from the Trust Fund, and P90,401 from the Special Education Fund.

Section 89 of Presidential Decree 1445 and COA Circular No. 97-002 dated Feb. 10, 1997 states that "no cash advances shall be given unless for a legally authorized specific purpose. A cash advance shall be reported and liquidated as soon as the purpose of which it was given has been served. No additional cash advance shall be allowed to any official or employee unless the previous cash advance given to him/her is first settled or a proper accounting thereof is made."

A breakdown of the cash advances in a list furnished by Peña states that the funds were used for, among others, travels to Cebu, Manila, Sipaway, Koronadal , Boracay , Iloilo, Cotabato and Capiz. Mondia could not be reached for comment as of press time*CPG

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