SK chief accused of using gov't car for personal trip

CEBU - A Sangguniang Kabataan chairman is in hot water for allegedly using government vehicle for personal purposes.

No less than Parian barangay captain Mark Balaga wrote the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas alleging conduct unbecoming of a government official against SK chairman Mat Eric Medalle when the latter reportedly used a government vehicle for his personal trip late last month.

Balaga said that Medalle borrowed from him their barangay multicab for a day, October 31, in order to attend to an invitation by the SK of Bogo City.

Medalle assured to have the vehicle returned evening of the same day, Balaga said. So he allowed the use of the vehicle assuming that the request was urgent and necessary.

However, the multicab was not returned as promised. On November 1, he found out from a barangay councilman that the vehicle was left in Bogo for mechanical problems.

Medalle never showed up and informed him of such, he said.

By November 2, the multicab was finally returned but damages at the back of the vehicle were noticed.

However, Medalle did not even bother to offer him an explanation as to what really happened.

When Medalle was asked, the SK chief answered that the multicab figured in an accident in Bogo. But Medalle failed to produce a copy of the police report and the SK invitation.

This prompted Balaga to ask Medalle to have the multicab fixed at his own expense.

Medalle promised to fix the multicab and to replace the 31 liters of gasoline consumed which was issued by the Cebu City government.

Balaga said he waited until November 4, but Medalle broke his promise. So a summon to appear at the office of the barangay captain was sent to Medalle by November 5. However, Medalle allegedly refused to sign the summon.

This has prompted Balaga to file the complaint at the office of the Ombudsman.

Balaga said that the multicab was not used by the barangay at the time when it was supposed to be helpful for the Operation Kalag-kalag and for the peace and order drive in Parian.

The office of SK Federation head Reygene Pelayo was furnished with a copy of the said complaint. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)