Ombudsman conducts fact-finding on "dishonesty" of San Roque officials

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas may have dismissed the criminal case for malversation of public funds and falsification of official documents against the officials of Barangay San Roque, Cebu City, but Prosecutor Alfred Yann Oguis said the criminal and administrative cases for dishonesty will be subject to a formal fact-finding investigation.

This, Oguis said, will determine whether there was an orientation that happened on October 2, 2009 at the Barangay Sports Complex and if there were other persons that could be held accountable for any irregularities in the release of P38,812.72 from the barangay’s coffer.

The complainants are members of the Senior Citizens Association - Roman Salamanes, Matilde Kyamko, Elsa Cabardo, Romeo Cortes and Romulo Bruya.

In their complaint, they said that since they joined the association they were always having problems with funding and lack of support from barangay officials.

The complainants said they were made to believe that they only had a budget of P7,000 for year 2009 which was taken from the P14,000 allocation for gender and development (GAD).

But Salamanes said she was informed by the Cebu Senior Citizen Federation Office at the Cebu City that the association was entitled to receive one percent share in the annual barangay budget separate from GAD.

“Believing that their budget has dried up, complainants stated that they still decided to continue with their activities by contributing and sharing from their own pockets,” read the complaint they filed before the anti-graft office.

But on January 3, 2009, the Barangay Council passed resolution approving one percent for the senior citizens in the amount of P38,812.72 for their activities.

The chairman of the Committee on Finance executed a certification showing the availability of the amount. Reportedly, the plan was prepared by Senior Citizens President Escolastica Baric.

“Even if we are already classified as Senior Citizens we would not be stupid enough to spend funds intended for only one occasion,” the complainants said.

The complainants said that when they confronted their president as to the amount of P38,812.72, the latter alleged she only signed a blank senior citizens’ plan form.

“GAD Focal person Ligaya Britania forced her to sign as Ms. Britania said she was going to submit the report to the DILG the following day and that Ms. Baric need not worry as she would be provided with a copy of the report,” they said.

The respondents of the case, in their counter-affidavit, stated that it was the senior citizens that submitted the plan. They also said the amount was used for the meals of participants and honorarium of the speaker for an event held on October 2, 2009. But this was refuted by the complainants who insisted there was no such activity. — (FREEMAN)