Ombuds suspends Soc Fernandez for neglectful attitude

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has suspended Talisay City Councilor Socrates Fernandez for three months for simple neglect of duty.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer II Maria Corazon Vergara-Naraja said that evidence showed that there was enough ground to hold the former mayor of Talisay City administratively liable for allowing the use of a government vehicle to an employee without a trip ticket.

“Clearly, respondent transgressed the aforementioned law and rules by allowing (Benedict) Gabasa on Sept. 13, 2010, to drive a government vehicle without a driver’s license and without any trip ticket. His failure to ensure that only a licensed driver would drive the government vehicle issued to him reflects a neglectful attitude and a flagrant disregard of his responsibility as head of office,” the decision reads.

The Office of the Ombudsman directed the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the decision with the request to promptly submit a compliance report.

Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office of the Office of the Ombudsman initiated the filing of the complaint against Fernandez during his stint as mayor for allegedly allowing Gabasa, a job order employee of the city, to drive the vehicle without driver’s license and any trip ticket.

Reportedly, the subject vehicle, a Toyota Revo bearing plate no. SGH 541 registered under the Talisay City government, was apprehended by policemen in Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, upon being informed that it was used by Joavan Fernandez, the son of the respondent, after he allegedly figured in an “altercation with a foreigner at a mall in Cebu City.”

Upon apprehension, police said they found out that Gabasa was actually driving the vehicle and there were no other passengers. Police also found drug paraphernalia inside.

Naraja ordered the elder Fernandez to submit his counter-affidavit to negate the allegations filed against him, but the respondent did not.

With the said facts, Naraja said there was substantial evidence to hold the councilor liable for simple neglect of duty.

“The apparent lack of cautions on the part of respondent and his failure to exercise care in the use of the vehicle for which he is accountable renders him administratively liable,” Naraja ruled.

The prosecution officer added that Fernandez’ “leniency in supervising Gabasa and his lack of diligence in monitoring the whereabouts of the vehicle entrusted to him gave Gabasa the opportunity to use the vehicle for illegal purposes as can be gleaned from the fact that some of the items found inside the vehicle by the apprehending policemen were drug paraphernalia.”

Naraja sternly warned Fernandez that a similar violation in the future shall be punished with a more severe penalty.

The FREEMAN tried to get the side of Fernandez but calls to him yesterday went unanswered. —/NSA (FREEMAN)