San Roque chief posts bail following his arrest

CEBU, Philippines - San Roque barangay captain Roger Ruizo and three of his councilmen posted bail for their temporary liberty yesterday in connection with the anti-graft and corruption practices case filed against them for alleged anomalous activities in their barangay.

The Office of the Ombudsman recommended P30,000 each for the temporary liberty of Ruizo and his councilmen Florentino Mau-ping Jr., Julius Mendoza and Mario Pamolarco. But upon review of the information of the case, Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Soliver Peras increased the bail bond to P50,000.

According to the rules it is the discretion of the court to increase or decrease the bail bond.

Last Wednesday evening, the members of the Criminal Investigation and Detective Group arrested Ruizo inside the San Roque barangay hall, the other respondents were not around.

However, when the three councilmen learned warrants were also issued against them they went to court to post bail.

Last month, the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas ordered a two-month suspension without pay against Ruizo and six of his councilmen, leaving the barangay with only one official, after they were found guilty of simple misconduct and simple neglect of duty.

Former councilman Julius Mendoza was likewise found guilty of the same offense but can no longer serve his penalty as he does not hold public office anymore.

However, he will still be among the respondents of the criminal case for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act that Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol has approved for filing against Ruizo and council members Mauping, Pamolarco, Julieta Balcon, Leonarda Pepito, Alex Sillos and April Jane Salas.

Former councilman Lidiore Miranda accused the respondents of fabricating documents to justify the disbursement of the P13,850 for a supposed activity for the disabled persons in the barangay.

The anomalous transaction was discovered after the respondents submitted a list of those who attended the gathering because one of those who allegedly attended has long been dead.

The list of attendees includes former barangay captain Telesforo Rabaya who died a long time ago.

 Ruizo pointed to Ligaya Britania, the barangay’s Gender and Development focal person, as the one responsible for the preparation of the document, but the anti-graft investigators said that the respondents cannot just pass the buck to Britania.

Despite the suspension Miranda is not satisfied with the ruling. He said he will be submitting additional evidence to convince the anti-graft investigators to increase the penalty.

Ruizo, on the other hand, said he will also be filing a motion for reconsideration to ask the ombudsman to reverse its findings and dismiss the case.

Ruizo said he only signed the documents without reading it since it was for the release of funds for the activities for the disabled. (FREEMAN)