Tomas sues more barangay captains

CEBU, Philippines — Less than a week before the May 14 elections, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña continued to file cases against barangay captains who have reportedly failed to liquidate and return the cash aid from the city government.

The mayor said yesterday that he filed the cases intentionally during the election period because he wants people to know these officials have allegedly failed to do.

“So, I’m telling the people to the barangays – don’t expect anything if you will elect these people because mawala lang atong kwarta,” he told reporters.

As of yesterday, at least 14 opposition-allied barangay captains are facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Last Friday afternoon, Osmeña, through the City Legal Office, filed a complaint against Adlaon Barangay captain Nieves Narra, Agsungot barangay Captain Annie Alcover, Apas Barangay captain Ramil Ayuman, Binaliw barangay Captain Wilson Bacor, Bonbon Captain Alexander Ibarita, Budlaan Captain Nerissa Antolihao, and Sudlon I Captain Dante Tabucal.

“Official records from the Office of the City Accountant indicated that nearly all of the city barangays have failed to submit liquidation reports for substantial amounts of the financial assistance received by them,” reads a portion of the complaint.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Osmeña also filed a similar case against Tisa Captain Phillip Zafra, Calamba Captain Maria Yvonne Feliciano, Basak Pardo Captain Yolandito Cagang, Basak San Nicolas Captain Norman Navarro, Barangay Kamputhaw Captain Trifonio Lequigan, Jr., Pasil Barangay Captain Julius Guioguio, Sambag I Captain Lemar Alcover and Tinago barangay captain Rafael Briones.

Osmeña said there are about 50 barangay captains who failed to liquidate the aid from the city.

“If these people are going to be elected as barangay officials, they will not get any money from me. The way they don’t liquidate? Why would I give this money to them?” he said.

“We will file several other cases because I have to report this to the people in the barangay so they can see, where did their money go? Where did all of this money go? They were given more than enough time. It’s not last minute. They asked for extension. We gave them extension. Still, no liquidation,” the mayor said.

Osmeña showed copies of the unliquidated financial assistance of Barangay Tinago, which was headed formerly by then captain and now City Councilor Joel Garganera.

It showed that the barangay returned P10,000 of the P14,864,500 assistance from the city as of December 2017.

The barangay submitted two partial liquidation amounting to over P3 million.

“And Mr. Garganera, let me assure you. You’re going to jail with 50 other barangay captains. No matter what happens in this election, I’m still the mayor. And I’m just doing my job. Don’t say it’s none of my business,” the mayor said.

Osmeña said these barangay captains, even if affiliated with Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, should be held accountable as the money came from the taxes of the people.

Zafra already said that they believed that the mayor is just “electioneering” because of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Sought for comment, Ayuman said barangay officials have already filed their answer and have liquidated the assistance from the city after it was questioned by the Commission on Audit.

“Natubag nana namo. Desperate move ni Tombully. Desperado kay walay laing option. Iyang mga kandidato kay pildihonon naman. Puros harassment na sa mayor,” he said.

Ayuman said he is not worried about the case since he can answer it in court.

He said the opposition barangay captains are eyeing to file malicious prosecution against the mayor on this matter. (FREEMAN)