Barangay chief pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - The barangay captain of Kamputhaw, Cebu City pleaded not guilty to the falsification of public documents charged against him.

Barangay Captain Lorenzo Basamot, assisted by his counsel, lawyer Gerardo Carillo, entered the plea of not guilty before Regional Trial Court Branch 12 Judge Estrella Singco during his arraignment on April 11, 2011.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas filed the case against Basamot after finding probable cause to indict Basamot for falsification of public documents.

The complaint was filed by the members of the Barangay Council of Kamputhaw.

The councilmen claimed Basamot falsified a trip ticket to make it appear that he was using the barangay service vehicle when he withdrew gasoline allocation from their authorized gasoline depot.

However, they later learned that Basamot was actually using his private car.

Basamot withdrew a total of P24,314.75 worth of gasoline from the depot.

The Ombudsman said that allowing privately owned vehicle to re-fuel using public funds is a violation of Commission on Audit Circular No. 96-004 dated April 1996.

Basamot admitted re-fueling his car using government funds sometime in 2002 and 2003 but argued it was used for official purposes.

Basamot added he could not use the barangay vehicle because it was under repair. – (FREEMAN)