Ombuds says PB can handle complaint vs town officials

CEBU, Philippines -  The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has forwarded to the Provincial Board the complaint filed by residents of Minglanilla against two officials of the town.

In an endorsement dated September 11, 2013, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio said investigating the complaint is within the “jurisdiction and competence” of the PB.

During its session yesterday, the PB referred the matter to the committee on complaints and investigation chaired by Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy.

Sitoy said they will look into the complaint and will start their investigation after the barangay election.

The residents filed the complaint against former mayor Eduardo Selma, now councilor, and former vice mayor Elanito Peña, now mayor, for allegedly not entertaining their letter within 15 days.

In their complaint, Peter Simon Jardinico of Barangay Calajoan, and Auxilum Toling-Olayer and Julia Peliro of Barangay Tungkil, introduced themselves as members of the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) and Civil Society Organization (CSO) of the town.

They said that in compliance with Section 5.1.2 of the DBM-DILG-DSWD-NAPC Joint Memorandum Circular 3, Series of 2012, they elected an LPRAT co-chairman and three representatives who would sign the Local Poverty Reduction Action Program (LPRAP).

The officers were Olayer as co-chairman, and Jardinico, Jayme Amazona and Leonita Nolasco as the three CSO representatives.

They said that during an LPRAP workshop last February 7 at the town session hall facilitated by Lelani Lopez, a “clarificatory” discussion was made on the choice of project and the corresponding budget.

The complainants alleged that when discussion became heated, Lopez, a Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer assigned to oversee the workshop, scolded them.

The complainants also alleged that there was falsification in the final LPRAP report on the choice of project and the corresponding budget.

They then submitted a letter to Selma, citing irregularities in the LPRAP and that the signatories there were not the right persons designated during the CSO assembly held on Feb. 1.

Aside from Selma, they also furnished Peña a copy of their letter-complaint.

However, Selma and Peña allegedly did not act on their letter despite the passage of 15 days, which they said constitute dereliction of duty based on government standard administrative procedures.  (FREEMAN)