SC Rules in Favor of Sta. Cruz Mayor Panganiban

January 19, 2016, the Supreme Court has cleared Sta. Cruz Mayor Domingo G. Panganiban of malversation charges. The case originated from an incident in 2006, where the mayor had liquidated a cash advance by withholding salaries of employees. The advance was in the amount of P500,000, and by the end of Panganiban's term in 2007, still had a balance of P256,000. When asked about this outstanding balance, the mayor referred to the salary deduction arrangement with the town accountant. With this, the Ombudsman found probably cause to charge Mayor Panganiban with malversation of public funds. The Sandiganbayan ruled against Panganiban in 2013, and was convicted and ordered to imprisonment for a minimum of 10-12 years, maximum of 17-18 years. The Sta. Cruz mayor then appealed to the Supreme Court with the aid of his lawyers, Romulo Macalintal and Edgardo Carlo Vistan. The SC has since overturned the ruling of the Sandiganbayan, saying that the liquidation of a cash advance through withholding salaries of employees is an allowed practice under the Commission on Audit (COA).