Tabunok council sues brgy chief, treasurer

The entire barangay council of Tabunok, Talisay City, has accused barangay captain Adonis Bacalso and barangay treasurer Joy Sabejon of violating COA rules and grave misconduct for allegedly keeping two checks earlier declared lost.

The councilmen, headed by Edison Sy Racaza, said in a complaint that Bacalso committed illegal and anomalous transactions using barangay funds.

Last March 2005 Bacalso and Sabejon signed Check no. 321199 worth P250,000 and Check No. 321200 worth P350,000 without the required documents and later said these were lost. But the complainants said a certain Fe Subing-Subing later called the barangay and inquired about Check no. 321199 that was not honored by a bank and Check no. 321200 that was rediscounted by a certain Aurelia Dequit.

"If the checks were lost, why did he not inform the barangay council when it is an utmost concern of the council considering that it is a public document representing an amount of public funds? And if so, why did he not execute an "Affidavit of Loss" in order to convince the public that the checks were really lost," the complainants said.

Talisay City Treasurer Luvizminda Villarante, in an earlier interview, assured that no government funds were spent because her office has control over all the checks issued by the barangays and all the checks are accounted for.

But last April 25 an official of Bankwise-Tabunok branch confirmed that there was indeed a barangay check worth P350,000 that was declared lost and was later found to have been sold to a businessman in Talisay.

Joey Francis Umerez, manager of Bankwise-Tabunok, confirmed receiving the Landbank Check No. 321200 issued by barangay Tabunok as a deposit made by one of their clients last April 25. He, however, did not honor the check and returned it the following day because it had "no advise on file" and no withdrawal against the proceeds of the check was ever made.

The complainants said Bacalso and Sabejon did the act in "bad faith" and "with intent to defraud" since they signed for the checks. The complainants also believe there was collusion between Bacalso and Sabejon to defraud the council since they knew they are not allowed to sign checks unless all the required documents are completed. - Garry B. Lao