Kamputhaw captain charged with graft

CEBU, Philippines - Kamputhaw Barangay Captain Lorenzo Basamot was indicted for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act over an alleged unlawful appointment of a barangay employee.

 The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has filed the case for violation of Section 3(e) of the Republic Act 3019 against Basamot before the Regional Trial Court wherein P30,000 bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Graft investigator Amy Rose Rellin found probable cause to hold Basamot for trial for appointing Lawyer Julius Ceasar Entice and Emmanuel Du as executive officer and assistant electrician, respectively, without the authority from the members of the Barangay Council.

The case stemmed from a complainant filed by Barangay Councilmen Enrique Bacalan, Juan Daño Jr., Ronald Anthony Librando, Rodnie Ray Tumulak and Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Daryl Jared Surian.

According to the complainants, Basamot made the appoint and replaced former barangay employees without the agreement of the majority of the Sangguniang Barangay members.

They said Basamot set aside a letter from the Department of the Interior and Local Government stating that the concurrence of the council members is mandatory under the Local Government Code in the appointment or replacement of barangay officials and employees.

But despite of the guidance from the DILG, Basamot appointed Entice and Du without the concurrence from the majority of the council members. Basamot was also summoned by Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca Santiago together with the complainants and a representative from the DILG.

During the conference Basamot was advised to stop appointing and removing employees of the barangay without the concurrence of the majority of the councilmen. However, on December 2007, Basamot again appointed Du as property clerk.

Basamot insisted that there was nothing illegal in his appointment of Du claiming that requirement of the approval of the majority of the council members under section 389 (b) (5) of the Local Government Code of 1991 applies only to appointment and replacement of barangay officials. — (FREEMAN)