Ombudsman clears DPS employee

CEBU, Philippines —  The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed the criminal and administrative complaints filed against an employee of the Cebu City government over an alleged use of a government service vehicle beyond the hours indicated in the trip ticket.

The anti-graft office has cleared Julius Golosino, administrative officer III of the Department of Public Service (DPS) in Cebu City government, from the graft case and for grave misconduct.

"It has not been established with clear and convincing evidence that respondent was the actual user of the vehicle on that day. Respondent was able to establish the fact that he is handling/managing 27 vehicles which could also be used by other divisions in DPS," read the decision.

In 2016, the Field Investigation Office sued Golosino before the Office of the Ombudsman.

It alleged that it received a letter from the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-7, informing that, on their Facebook account, a concerned citizen posted a picture of a government service vehicle with plate no. SEJ 316 parked at Ridges Complex, near Sykes, at Panagdait, Mabolo, Cebu City at around 10 p.m. on September 12, 2013.

Per LTO-7 records, the vehicle is registered under the Cebu City Treasurer's Office.

Investigation revealed that the Acknowledgement Receipt for Equipment (ARE) of the vehicle was issued on August 16, 2013 to Golosino.

The trip ticket was from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with authorized passenger N. Mardalla from Ramos to City Hall, V. Rama, Gas Station, Ramos, Mandaue, City Hall, Ramos.

Because the vehicle was seen parked on a private place beyond the hours indicated in the trip ticket, FIO alleged Golosino violated an anti-graft provision and is possibly guilty of grave misconduct.

Golosino has denied the allegations filed against him.

He claimed that he was not using the vehicle at that time.

He, however, explained that there were 27 vehicles under his name.  One of which was the subject vehicle.

He averred that he is the custodian of the aforementioned vehicles to ensure that they were in good running condition, updating their insurances, renewing their registration and having them repaired, if needed.

With the foregoing, graft investigation and prosecution officer III Cynthia Maturan-Sibi dismissed the complaints but admonished Golosino.

While it is true that the vehicle is under the name of Golosino, the same was not the sole user, Sibi ruled.

"That notwithstanding, respondent is hereby admonished though to strictly to follow government procedures of recording actual usage of vehicles entrusted under his care and not just relegate the task to guards on duty who might not be public employees themselves," read the decision. — GAN (FREEMAN)