Barangay chief probed for using government vehicles in outing

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay captain in Quezon City is being investigated for allegedly using two government-issued vehicles to celebrate his child’s birthday at a resort in Laiya, Batangas on Wednesday last week.

Quezon City Barangay Operations Center officer-in-charge Noel Soliven sent a letter to Barangay Escopa II chairman Fernandito Ortiz on Monday, asking him to explain why he used two vehicles issued to the barangay in a private activity.

The two vehicles – a sport utility vehicle and an L-300 van – were spotted by a netizen at a resort in Laiya. In a video sent to ABS-CBN, the two vehicles were used to transport people and food to the resort.

“We immediately endorsed it to the concerned barangay for them to explain,” Soliven said in a TV interview.

A staffer at the operations center said in a phone interview yesterday they have yet to receive an explanation from Soliven.

In an interview over radio dzMM, Ortiz admitted what he did was wrong as he is aware of a memorandum from the city government that states the proper use of government-issued vehicles.

Ortiz said the vehicles were used for the “bonding” of members of the barangay task force on youth development at the resort and he admitted that he took the opportunity to celebrate his child’s birthday with members of the task force.

Ortiz could be held liable under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.