Brgy officials face raps before Ombuds

CEBU, Philippines -  For allegedly falsifying documents, officials of Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City are facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Barangay Captain Rodrigo Jabellana, secretary Orlando Cabrera, treasurer Annabel Wenceslao, and councilmen Nenita Alit, Daniela Tabaloc and Fielma Manigbas are facing charges for alleged violation of Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code, gross neglect of duty, misconduct, and grave abuse of authority.

The complaint was filed by councilmen Josias Briones, Gil Baylon, Celerino Cabanca, Jr. and Chona Pascua.

The complainants said that on March 3, 2014, they went to the Department of Interior and Local Government office to follow up on the administrative complaint filed against Jabellana.

They discovered that Jabellana filed before DILG three resolutions that appropriated the program of works and budget for gender and development for CY 2014 amounting to P773,660.10, which the barangay council reportedly approved unanimously.

They said they were "shocked and surprised" because they reportedly did not approve the resolutions.

"Worst, it was mentioned in the respective resolutions that it was unanimously approved when in truth and in fact, it was not. We did not approve such resolutions due to some valid reasons," the complaint reads.

They said Cabrera and the three councilmen submitted the barangay appropriation ordinance number 004 "deliberately and maliciously" which was received by the city budget officer.

They alleged further that Jabella illegally withheld their honorarium amounting to more than P8,000. Jabellana and Wenceslao reportedly reasoned that the deductions were made because of the complainants' absence from the special session on December 9, 2013.

Respondents are set to answer the allegations filed against them.  (FREEMAN)