Section 11Sec./Art. 11

Penal Provisions.

(a) A public official or employee who commits the following acts shall, after due notice and hearing, suffer the corresponding penalties as herein provided:

(1) Commits an unethical and fraudulent act or abuse of authority, shall be suspended for three (3) months without pay for the first offense and dismissal from service for the succeeding offense;

(2) Appropriates the funds of the Malasakit Program for personal use, or shall willingly or negligently consents either expressly or impliedly to the misappropriation of funds without objecting to the same and properly reporting the matter to the proper authorities, shall be liable for misappropriation of the funds of the Malasakit Program, and shall be punished with a fine equivalent to triple the amount misappropriated per count and suspension of three (3) months without pay.

The abovementioned administrative penalties shall be without prejudice to the filing of criminal charges under Republic Act No. 3019, otherwise known as the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act" and existing penal laws.

(b) Any person who commits fraud or misrepresentation as to his/her indigency or financial incapacity shall render the assistance void and shall make the person liable for twice the amount of assistance provided and suffer the penalty of imprisonment from six (6) months to not more than two (2) years;

(c) Any person who aids or abets the commission of the offense in the preceding paragraph shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for one (1) day to not more than six (6) months.