Barangay captain suspended over jailed tanod's honorarium

CEBU, Philippines — The barangay captain of Cogon Centro Ramos in Cebu City was suspended for six months without pay for allowing payment of honorarium to a tanod who was in jail.

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, in a decision dated May 12, 2022, found Barangay Captain Omar Durano Sr. and the late barangay treasurer Vicente Fajardo guilty of administrative infraction of gross neglect of duty.

Fajardo died in 2020.

The complaint against Barangay Councilor Maria Elena Cayetano and May Sadaya was dismissed for lack of evidence.

DILG-7 Regional Director Leocadio Trovela on October 14, 2022 digitally signed Memorandum dated October 10, 2022 addressed to Durano.

“In this regard, you are hereby directed to comply with this Order of Suspension by vacating your current office or position, and consequently cease the performance of powers and functions appurtenant thereto, immediately upon receipt hereof,” read the DILG memorandum.

Durano was accused of having allowed paying P8,000 representing the four-month honorarium of a barangay tanod who was found to be serving a jail term in 2018.

Durano, in an interview over KTV News, confirmed the suspension order saying that it was him who personally went to the office of the Department of Interior and Local Government on Friday, October 21, 2022.

He said he immediately complied with the order while Councilor Maria Besabella assumed the position as acting barangay captain.

“Dawaton lang gyud nato kay mao may order,” Durano said.

Though he admitted his mistake, Durano expressed dismay that he was not given the chance to explain his side by the Ombudsman.

Durano said he did it for humanitarian reasons to the family of his tanod and he was willing to pay the amount had he been given the chance to explain.

“Naluoy lang ko kay kato panahona iya anak nasakit. Ang asawa nihangyo pwede ba kadawat sweldo,” he said.

Durano has appealed to his constituents to cooperate with the acting barangay captain while he is serving his suspension in the next six months. (FREEMAN)