Inayawan brgy chief faces dismissal if proven he lied

CEBU - If Inayawan barangay captain Rustico “Rustom” Ignacio is found to be lying, he could be charged for dishonesty and may be suspended or dismissed from active service.

This according to Councilor Edgardo Labella, who is now seeking the help of the City Council to have Ignacio investigated after the scavenger who found a sack containing money confirmed that he turned over part of his find to the barangay captain.

Reports had it that scavenger Napoleon Ursabia said that Ignacio “really received part of the $60,000 he found at the dumpsite.”

However, Ignacio denied reports he received part of the US dollars that were mistakenly thrown to the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill by the family members of money changer Emiliano Tanpin Jr., a resident of barangay Calamba.

As the National Bureau of Investigation is already conducting an investigation into the case, Labella wants the Council to ask from the investigating body a copy of its report to establish whether Ignacio had really received part of the “trash money”.

Labella said there is a need to conduct a thorough probe on Ignacio considering that the matter “involves a barangay official who is mandated by law to be at all times accountable to the people relative to the discharge of their public functions.”

In his proposed resolution that will be discussed during the session of the City Council tomorrow, Wednesday, Labella requested the NBI to “conduct a no-nonsense investigation so those involved in the alleged lost money trail be brought to the bar of justice and the innocent be spared of the embarrassment.”

Of the close to P3 million amount, only $20,000 or P1 million have been recovered so far which prompted the money changer to implore the scavengers to return the money to him.

A small sack which contained the dollars was mistakenly thrown by a member of the Tanpin family together with real garbage. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)