The Office of the Ombudsman (Visayas) has denied the motion of Evelinda Mondia for reconsideration of its resolution ordering the filing of charges against her in court for violation of Presidential Decree 1445, for alleged failure to liquidate cash advances in a case filed against her by Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña, for having been filed out of time.

A copy of the Ombudsman’s order dated January 19 was furnished the DAILY STAR by Peña yesterday.

Evelinda was the private secretary of her husband, then Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia, who was assassinated in Iloilo before the 2010 elections

Evelinda had filed a motion for reconsideration to the resolution of the Office the Ombudsman that found probable cause to indict her for numerous violations of Presidential Decree 1445 and directing the filing of information in the proper court.

Mondia said that her travel to Cotabato City and Koronadal, South Cotabato on October 4-6, 2006 and to Cebu City in November 2006 were all related to her functions as Municipal Tourism Officer-Designate of Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, the Ombudsman noted.

She said that her travels that are the subject of the case had been duly approved and authorized and funds have been duly provided by the municipality. She stated that the amounts she received have been liquidated after appropriate documents were submitted, otherwise the municipality would not have released her terminal fee and cleared her of all accountabilities, which is a condition precedent to such release.

But the Ombudsman said she filed her motion out of time and offered no new argument to warrant the re-examination to its finding of probable cause to indict her.*

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