Osmeña seeking probe into Duljo project anomaly

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has sought for an investigation into the alleged anomalies in the implementation of the Self-Help Project in barangay Duljo-Fatima.

This developed as Osmeña endorsed the complaint of six barangay councilmen against Duljo-Fatima barangay captain Miguel Cabatino to the City Council, which has the authority to act on the complaint.

Section 61 of the Local Government Code stated that a "complaint against any elective barangay official shall be filed before the Sangguniang Panlungsod concerned whose decision shall be final and executory."

In their two-page complaint, councilmen Elmer Abellana, Lorenzo Abellanosa, Jesus Alicaya, Jane Cabaral, Jenkin Cabanit and Rodulfo Manlunas said that in January 2005, they came to know that the city government released as early as February 2004 the construction materials for the barangay project.

The materials - cement, sand and gravel, steel bars, among others - were released to Cabatino and Gerardo Illustrisimo, the appointed project coordinator.

But the councilmen alleged that they were not aware of the project's implementation, adding that they heard rumors that the materials were being sold by Illustrisimo.

"We inquire from the Office of City Councilor Gerardo Carillo regarding the matter. The office of Councilor Carillo provided us with copies of the various programs of works and estimates," the councilmen said.

The councilmen, who conducted an investigation into the matter, claimed that Illustrisimo gave the materials to different sitios in the barangay and to Cabatino. But what surprised them was that the project was not implemented in any of the sitio.

But Illustrisimo said that it was up to the Office of the City Engineer to come up with an inspection report on the project, admitting that he indeed sold some of the materials "para suhol sa mga tawo."

"It should be noted that Mr. Illustrisimo was given absolute authority by barangay captain Cabatino as far as the Self-Help Projects was concerned. By virtue of this authority, Mr. Illustrisimo claimed the materials from the city government, stored at his residence, without even conforming to the program of works and estimates of the materials released," the councilmen said.

The councilmen also alleged that Cabatino intentionally did not inform them about the release of the materials for unknown reasons.

"He should have exercised utmost diligence in the supervision of Mr. Illustrisimo, as project coordinator, in order to ensure the delivery of the materials to the intended beneficiaries. Had the barangay captain not remiss with his duty, the city government and barangay Duljo-Fatima could not have suffered loss," they said.

The complaint was forwarded to the City Council committee on barangay affairs, which is chaired by Councilor Eugenio Faelnar.

Cabatino told The FREEMAN that he is willing to face any investigation by the City Council to clear his name from the issue.

"Tingali sa ilang huna-huna naay anomaliya pero ato lang tubagon ilang mga pasangil batok nako kay kita nagtrabaho ra man. Tinuod daghan pang wala nato maatiman sa atong barangay pero kanang butanga dili na nato mabuhat," Cabatino said. - Garry B. Lao