A formal hearing before the USG Supreme Court for the FAST2010 batch government officers facing an impeachment complaint was held at the USG conference room last April 19. Tabitha Tomas (Batch president), Patricia Cui (Batch vice president), and Jamina Padilla (LA representative) were charged for gross negligence of duty, illegal disbursements of funds, and behavior that undermines the integrity of the USG after losing a total of Php 14,000 during the course of a tie up project with Team Communication last October.
A brief study of the case reveals that Tomas, who was partly in charge of keeping the funds from the Freedom Film Fesitval last October, lost Php 7,000 worth of income kept in a cash box. The three officers, sensing the urgency to replace the loss, then decided to split the cost in order to pay it off. Padilla, who was assigned to deliver the replacement fund to Team Communication president Danise Talaba then entrusted the money to a person who claimed to be the proxy of Talaba, as Talaba could not make it to the meeting. The replacement money, however, never reached Talaba.
The court ruled Cui innocent on all charges while Tomas and Padilla were found guilty of gross negligence of duty. The court decided to forgo impeachment as the two will not be assuming posts in the USG for the incoming academic year. However, Tomas and Padilla were sanctioned with a disbarment from the USG.
13 replies on “Two USG officers disbarred for negligence”
What I can’t comprehend is that how guillable could one be to simply entrust a huge some of mony to some who ‘claims’ to be someone’s proxy? At least get them to sign a petty cash voucher, get their name, and contact details. But even that would still be risky. Some issues are better dealt with without any 3rd parties involved. If you need to talk to a certain person, look for them, wait for them, especially if it’s important. Never settle for some ‘proxy’ they’re bound to screw up somewhere. It’s like chinese whisper. The irony here is that their batchmates entrusted them with their government, and clearly they couldn’t even be responsible enough to safe guard cash.
The article could have shed more information about the topic if there was an interview of both sides or an exert coming from the magistrates.
They could have at least phoned Denise Talaba if the ‘proxy’ was indeed trustable. Actually, they could’ve handed her the money themselves, or at least waited to do it in person. Seriously, a proxy? I’m pretty sure all of them had access to phones.
Looking at the picture, I thought this was a mock trial by a class. The organization should have a bank account that they can put all their money from income generating activities to avoid this. Seems pretty basic right. dlsu should not just concentrate in building up the sports program but also emphasize on developing academics. Thats why “that other school” keeps on looking down at us.
Having an “org bank account” is not allowed
This case has only one moral to learn by ALL USG OFFICIALS, STUDENTS DOWN TO ADMINISTRATION:
Do not make an INDUSTRY if your goal is just to MAKE MONEY.
I knew the difficulty of being a USG Official and a LASALLIAN, but TRAINING should be GIVEN TO THESE ASPIRING AND CURRENT OFFICIALS BEFORE THEY ENTER INTO A VENTURE LIKE THIS.
And remember this maxim:
“He who is the cause of the cause is the cause of the evil cause.”
Seriously TeamComm? Filing an impeachment case at the end of the school year? The org could have just demanded the officers responsible for the loss to pay P7000, with damages if any. I believe the circumstance does not call for a court case. Note that some banks simply deduct lost money from the salaries of the teller/s responsible for the loss without filing a case whatsoever.
Why is there no mention of the proxy’s name? I’m assuming that the proxy is also a DLSU student. Shouldn’t the proxy also be held liable? How could the proxy even know that Padilla was supposed to meet with Talaba? There’s this possibility that the proxy may also be part of TeamComm and the proxy intentionally held the money from Talaba to set Tomas and Padilla up for an impeachment case, but then, the information in the article is not sufficient to imply just that.
Also, I believe its about time that all organizations and USG units are given the freedom to have their own bank accounts, subject to periodical audits. Pooling all the money of the USG and the CSO to an account handled by the SLOW AND BUREAUCRATIC accounting office of DLSU hinders students from delivering high-caliber projects at a pace that matches the Trisem system.
* Hey SLIFE, its about time you make some improvements.
Hi Anonymous! I am an officer of TeamComm and I would just like to clarify that TeamComm did not file this impeachment case. I hope TLS would provide complete information regarding the said event. 🙂
There was a claim that this ‘proxy’ was from Team Communication, however, it is unclear if a proxy did exist in the first place to get the money lost from the project. If the claim that a ‘proxy’ was indeed given the money, why is his/her identity unclear? when did this transaction happen anyway? Any financial transaction should be at least written down on paper or acknowledged by both parties involved right?
I have to express my disappointment for how this case was handled. Names were dropped, and people have not been notified personally if they were.
the matter about having a financial transaction matters such as this isnt primarily requiring a written down because in most cases this type of instance were in a seclude meeting is held on certain types of people are allowed to enter and that it was a failure on Jam’s part not securing a proper identification clearance but as for teamcomm the fault remains on their initiative in getting the money because as of the moa between the proper documentation is their in the first place.
Also were you a representative in the meetings held during the said meet ups?
According to some reports, it was CLA College President Raymund Nejal
who filed the complaint. The complaint was filed some time during the
election period and took a few weeks before it was formally processed. But this isn’t coming from any official sources, so you can double-check with the judiciary, who should’ve all of the case documents.
World-class citizens. Future leaders. La Sallian Achievers for God and Country?
I don’t have anything against the article; it did its task of reporting about a trial, but not exactly all the details about it.
To those who are curious about the case, ask the Judiciary, not the reporters. It is not the job of a student paper to feed you everything, but to let you taste a little of the issue then let you find the rest of the meat.
From what I think, the trial was poorly done. The case was not filed properly, the hearing was not done with much preparation, and the verdict was rushed because it was hell week at the time and the turnover was scheduled hours after. Heck, the case was filed too late. It occurred in 2nd Term, and the hearing was done on the day that all of them are due of their office? Very negligent of the College President to report as early as possible, but it cannot be blamed since the Batch Government did not haste in reporting and solving the problem,
For the issue itself, it is a bit hilarious. Money entrusted to you and you lose it, then you make up for it and give it to the wrong person? Reminds me of sitcoms.
As for the verdict, they were lucky disbarment was the only punishment the magistrates could give. If it was filed any earlier, then they could all potentially be impeached. They should have also been guilty for dishonesty since they kept it secret instead of reporting it to the proper authorities.
I do not believe that it is justified when you make up for your mistakes, but bury the body in the process. It is a more acceptable conduct for a leader to come forward and admit his/her mistakes than hide it and have someone else uncover it, though in this case, they did tell the College Pres.