Busay councilman gets one month suspension

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has meted Busay Councilman Eliodoro “Yody’’ Sanchez one month suspension without pay after he was found guilty of simple misconduct.

The case stemmed from his irregular use of government vehicle in May 2014 when he was yet barangay captain of Busay.

"Clearly, there was a transgression of some established and definite rule of action by respondent (Sanchez) amounting to simple misconduct," graft investigator Maria Regina Hagad-Fernandez stated in her decision.

Sanchez was investigated by the anti-graft office after he was caught using government vehicle without trip ticket, in violation of the circular of the Commission on Audit.

According to the anti-graft office, the vehicle, Toyota Hilux with plate number SKV 488, was seen at Salinas Drive in Barangay Lahug on a Sunday. Upon verification with the Land Transportation Office-7, it was found out that the vehicle was registered to Cebu City government.

Records from the General Services Office showed that the vehicle was assigned to Sanchez in 2012 and that no trip ticket was issued on the day the car was seen.

Sanchez, in his counter-affidavit, argued that the vehicle was brought in Barangay Lahug to have its engine oil changed for maintenance purposes.

He said he requested a barangay tanod to inform the person in charge of trip tickets to prepare one the next day since it was a Sunday.

He added that his failure to secure a trip ticket on that day was the only instance in his 25 years in service as barangay official and thus should not be held liable for misconduct.

"Misconduct is defined as a transgression of some established and definite rule of action, more particularly, unlawful or gross negligence by a public officer," Fernandez said.

"The need of a change in engine oil does not qualify as an emergency case that would justify the absence of a trip ticket. The maintenance check-up and change in engine oil could very well be done the day following when the administrative staff is present," she added.

Under the COA circular, the use of a government vehicle shall be authorized only through the issuance of a trip ticket signed by the chief of the concerned office. This is part of the government effort to conserve fuel and economize expenditures. (FREEMAN)