Manila Ombudsman backs dropping of charges vs. Kamputhaw brgy. officials
The Office of the Ombudsman in
Overall deputy ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has concurred with the findings and recommendation of Ombudsman-Visayas director Virginia Palanca-Santiago to clear both councilman Rodnie Ray Tumulak and barangay employee Imelda Limoran who were both accused by Basamot for dishonesty and grave misconduct.
Basamot said the two connived with each other in issuing barangay clearances without his knowledge and signature and they also collected payments for these documents without issuing receipts.
In his counter-affidavit, Tumulak said as per an agreement with the other barangay councilmen, he was allowed to sign —on behalf of the barangay captain— personal barangay clearances such as enrollment, employment, for police clearance, for NBI, death in the house of deceased as required by the funeral parlors.
Tumulak said other barangay clearances for business, electrical connections or building clearances, it is only the barangay captain is allowed to issue such.
He alleged that Basamot’s filing of an administrative case against him was malicious, baseless and politically motivated as it was made as a counter-charge to the numerous complaints he filed before the Ombudsman.
Limoran claimed that Basamot may just have filed the charges against her because she was suspected as having sided with Tumulak who had filed numerous of complaints against Basamot.
The anti-graft investigators said the respondents could not be sanctioned because they were not representing themselves as the barangay captain.
“The act complained of, as mentioned by complainant, does not show lack of integrity or a disposition to defraud, cheat, deceive or betray. Neither was there any element of corruption present nor was there manifest and clear intent to violate the law or flagrant disregard of any established rule,” the graft investigators said. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP
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