Over "missing" check: Tabunok council eyeing raps vs. barangay head

The barangay council of Tabunok in Talisay City is contemplating taking legal action against barangay captain Adonis Bacalso if evidence would show he had something to do with a "missing check."

Barangay councilman Manuel Cabriana, in an interview, said that his colleagues would demand an explanation from Bacalso.

The barangay council session was supposed to be held yesterday, but did not push through for lack of a quorum.

On the other hand, Joey Francis Umerez, manager of Bankwise in Osmeña boulevard, confirmed receiving Landbank check no. 321200 issued by barangay Tabunok as a deposit made by one of their clients last April 25.

In his letter to city administrator Aurora Econg dated July 15, Umerez said the check was dishonored and returned last April 26 for reason of "no advice on file"; no withdrawal against the proceeds of the check was ever made.

Check no. 321200 was reported as a missing check that allegedly contained P350,000.

Econg requested the bank if barangay Tabunok check no. 321200 was declared lost by Bacalso. She said the Commission on Audit tasked her to investigate on the matter and as to who originally endorsed the check. But Umerez said that they can't provide information regarding their client as bank transactions are protected by Republic Act 1405 or the Bank Secrecy Law.

Umerez said he asked their client how the check came to his possession, and said that the check was offered to him for rediscounting, and being a businessman, he agreed because the check was issued by a barangay and presumed it will be funded.

"As a standard procedure, all checks deposited but returned are turned over to the depositor. In this case, the check was given to our client-depositor, who according to him gave the check back to the payee after the settlement of their transaction," Umerez said. - Garry B. Lao