Inayawan market head suspended for misconduct

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas penalized the administrator of the Inayawan public market with a month's suspension without pay for simple misconduct.

Inayawan public market administrator Eddie Batuigas was suspended for simple misconduct after his refusal to show a pertinent document to a complainant.

The conflict stemmed from the alleged giving up of her market stall by a certain Virginia Abuel to a certain Marjorie Saraña.

On February 10, 2003, Abuel reportedly entered into an agreement, in writing, with Saraña for the latter to administer her grocery store for a bond of P30,000.

But on July 30 that year, Abuel was summoned before the barangay market committee for purportedly selling her market stall to another person. After that, she found out her stall was already closed.

Upon Abuel's confrontation with Batuigas, the latter reportedly showed her a handwritten agreement stating she allegedly sold her store to Saraña for P30,000.

The document dated February 18, 2003 allegedly bore Abuel's signature. However, the complainant denied having entered into such agreement nor signed any document.

When Abuel referred the agreement to a PNP handwriting expert, findings showed that her signature was forged.

Abuel then filed a case for falsification by private individual and use of falsified documents against Saraña before the city prosecutor's office.

To support the allegation, she then asked for a certified true copy of the questioned agreement from Batuigas. But Batuigas denied her of such, saying that Saraña took the original copy with her.

The case was dismissed on September 2004.

But the Ombudsman believed that Batuigas had the copy of the agreement but hid it from Abuel as the market administrator had even furnished the Ombudsman with a certified copy from the original of said agreement that he formerly claimed not in his possession.

According to the Ombudsman, such claim "would be a point to lift an eyebrow at if only to know whether or not he was telling the truth."

With that finding, graft investigation and prosecution officer Helen Acas found Batuigas guilty of simple misconduct and meted him with a month's suspension without pay as penalty.

He is also "sternly warned that a repetition of the same act shall be dealt with more severely."

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Primo Miro ordered making this decision dated April 26 final and executory. - Liv G. Campo