Dead man "attends" barangay gathering

CEBU, Philippines - How could a man, who died almost six years ago, still attend a barangay gathering for persons with disabilities? That’s only in the Philippines.

The incumbent barangay captain and several other officials of Barangay San Roque, Cebu City are now facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas over alleged irregularities in the use of barangay funds.

This after it was discovered that the barangay’s former chief, Telesforo Rabaya, who died almost six years ago, was included in the attendance of an activity organized for persons with disabilities (PWD) last year and made to appear that he even took the food and snacks that were served during the week-long event.

Rabaya, who served as barangay captain of San Roque for 30 years, died of cardiac arrest at the age 78 last March 3, 2004.

However, the documents submitted by incumbent barangay captain Rogelio Ruizo before the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Cebu City showed that Rabaya still attended the activity for disabled persons last July 17 to 23, 2009 and even signed the attendance sheet.

This incident prompted barangay councilman Lidiore “Boy” Miranda to file criminal complaints against Ruizo and other barangay officials before the anti-graft office claiming that there was no actual activity conducted for the disabled persons and it could be possible that some unscrupulous barangay officials and employees just pocketed the funds intended for the event.

Miranda said he was able to talk to some of those disabled persons listed as among those who participated in the activity and all of them said they did not know anything about the activity.

“Klaro kaayo nga gihimo-himo ra nila kining maong mga dukomento aron ipatoo nga duna’y nanambong sa activity aron nga mabulsa nila ang kwarta nga gitagana para sa kalihukan,” Miranda told The FREEMAN.

According to Miranda, among the questionable documents submitted by Ruizo to the DILG-Cebu City is the copy of a barangay resolution that showed the members barangay council have assembled on July 4, 2009 and appropriated the amount of P14,000 for the food and snacks at P280 per pack to 50 disabled persons.

The resolution showed that Miranda was present when the issue was deliberated by the barangay council, but the councilman claimed that he never remembered it was discussed by them. He strongly denied having signed the resolution.

“Ang ilang paagi mao nga inighuman sa among official session sa barangay, magpundok kana sila pagbalik unya maghisgot og laing mga isyu nga wala ko kay mahadlok nga mahibaw-an ang ilang binuang,” Miranda said.

Another barangay councilman, Alex M. Sillos, confirmed Miranda’s claim, adding there were instances that he was asked by their barangay secretary to sign a resolution on certain issues that were not discussed in their barangay council session.

“At that time, being new in the barangay council, I was told by my peers that it is alright and natural to do this to speed up the processing and address the concerns of the barangay. But later, I discovered that it is illegal,” Sillos said in an affidavit.

In a separate interview, Ruizo strongly denied that he and his allied barangay councilmen were involved in illegal activities, although he admitted that one of his barangay personnel named Ligaya Britantia, assigned to the Gender and Development (GAD) section, was the one who prepared the list that included Rabaya’s name and signature.

But Miranda said Ruizo and other barangay officials who signed the documents are liable because it’s not impossible for them not to have knowledge on the documents they are signing.

Ruizo said Britania had already admitted to him that she committed the questionable activity. Despite that, he still allowed her to continue working with the barangay and did not investigate her for the offense.

Miranda also filed separate criminal complaint against Ruizo for refusing to give him copies of the minutes of their sessions in violation to the provisions as provided for under section 5 (e) of Republic Act 6713, or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. — /WAB (THE FREEMAN)