Village chiefs claim their signatures were forged

CEBU, Philippines - Two former barangay captains in Mandaue City have claimed that their signatures had been forged and denied receiving any Livelihood Technology Kit (LTF) Volumes I-V from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of former sixth district representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz.

Oscar Mendoza, former barangay Pakna-an captain and Dario Tariman, former barangay Tabok captain said a letter they have received from the Commission on Audit-Special Audit Office is inquiring whether they have received such kits and were also ask whether the signatures in the acknowledgement form belong to them.

The kit was reportedly released sometime between July and December 2009.

“Wala gyud ko makadawat anang kit unya kanang signature nga naa nganha, dili gyud na akoa,” said Mendoza.

Tariman also said the same thing.

Tariman said one of those who signed the acknowledgment form was her former barangay councilwoman (Marsha Ceniza), who at that time was already dead.

 â€œNaa diri iyang (Ceniza) pangalan unya naay pirma. Pero unsaon man niya pagdawat og pirma nga aning higayuna, patay na man siya?” Tariman said.

The Freeman tried to contact Soon-Ruiz for comments but received no reply as of press time.

COA-Special Audits Office Susan Garcia stated a team from her office is conducting government-wide performance audit on priority development programs and projects of the government implemented during calendar years 2007-2009.

These programs were, in most cases, implemented by the government including the National livelihood Development Corporation.

Garcia said records of NLDC disclosed that certain amounts were released to Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. out of the PDAF of Soon-Ruiz for the distribution of LTK.

Among the documents submitted by KKAMFI to support the utilization of the fund is a list of recipients which disclosed that each recipient had received a set of LTK.

The audit team, as a matter of procedure, is now confirming receipt of items distributed as well as the authenticity of the signatures therein.  (FREEMAN)