Ex-brgy execs accused of falsifying resolution

A former barangay captain and his secretary of barangay Bateria in Daanbantayan town are now facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for allegedly falsifying a barangay resolution to make it appear as though they had approved the turnover of a barangay water system to the municipal government.

Now facing charges are former village chief Jorge Malinao and his secretary Rosemarie Abelong, both residents of barangay Bateria.

The complainants are Lazaro Brizo, Alfonzo Diaz and Patricia Etcuban - all are former members of the barangay council.

They accused Malinao and Abelong of conniving in falsifying barangay resolution No. 15-2007 allegedly adopted by the barangay council on July 31, last year.

In the complaint, they alleged that last January 3 of this year, Mayor Sun Shimura and his mother Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot arrived in their barangay purposely to take over management of the Bateria Waterworks and Sanitation System on behalf of the local government.

They further said that Shimura and Loot informed the residents that the water and sanitation service of the barangay was turned over to the municipality by former barangay captain Malinao based on the said barangay resolution.

They added that since they doubt the announcement made by the mayor and the vice mayor about the said resolution reportedly passed by the barangay council, they took time to verify the said document.

They then discovered that the barangay resolution showed by Shimura was never presented, discussed and approved by the Sangguniang Barangay on July 31, 2007 or on any other date.

Etcuban said that in the resolution, she was made to appear as though she had seconded the motion in approving the resolution. But she pointed out that she had never made the alleged motion nor seconded any motion during that session.

The said questionable resolution was submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan and the Office of the Mayor.  — Jose P. Sollano/MEEV