THE disgraced former Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Secretary-General Ernesto Herrera could face a string of criminal charges once the external audit of TUCP projects is completed.

“Mr. Herrera will have a day of reckoning where he will be held accountable for serious allegations of siphoning funds allegedly into his personal bank account when he was still a leader of TUCP,” said Alan Tanjusay, TUCP advocacy officer adding: “if proven, this would be an embarrassing fall and disgraceful way to end his political career.”

Based on reports by the external auditors who are conducting the audit of TUCP projects, Herrera had committed acts which are against accounting rules and standards by using his position and authority as the former general secretary.

Former TUCP finance officer Eve Legion had signed an affidavit stating the former two-time senator instructed her to prepare vouchers, withdrawal slips, checks and/or orders of payment payable to him as cash advance.

Legion maintained that Atty. Democrito T. Mendoza, the TUCP president, was never consulted and was kept in the dark by Herrera on various expenditures and transactions. “They were carried without prior clearance and approval of the president,” emphasized Legion.

In an audit report prepared by an external auditor, Herrera made unliquidated cash advances amounting to P2.5 million intended for a TUCP project.

The report showed the first check with an amount of P300,000 Herrera signed and issued to himself was made on February 24, 2010. This check was deposited in his personal bank account a day later.

The second and third checks dated March 9, 2010 with an amount of P2 million and on March 26, 2010 with an amount of P250,000 were signed by him and issued to his name. These were, again, deposited in his personal bank account hours after he issued the checks.   
Jun Icban Legaspi