Ombuds dismisses barangay treasurer

CEBU, Philippines – The Ombudsman-Visayas yesterday ordered the dismissal from service of the treasurer of barangay Pasil, Cebu City after it was found out that she violated the audit procedures by not reflecting into the barangay records the income of the barangay’s water refilling station.

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement the order against Ma. Corazon R. Veloso, whom it found guilty of gross neglect of duty.

Veloso earlier explained that she violated the law because she did not know the procedures. But the graft investigators rejected her defense, saying that ignorance of the law excuses no one.

The graft investigators argued that Veloso could not even be considered ignorant of the proper procedures because there were some sales that have been issued with official receipts.

“It is clear that Veloso being a barangay treasurer charged with the custody of the barangay funds and the disbursement of barangay expenses, violated the established rules and regulations regarding the custody of funds per instruction of the barangay captain,” Apostol said.

In 1999, the barangay started operating a water refilling station from the capital that was granted out of the Countrywide Development Fund of then Cebu City south district Rep. Nancy Cuenco.

But Pasil barangay councilmen Mario Bitang and Ranulfo Abejo filed a complaint before the Ombudsman after they have noticed that Veloso did not complied with the audit procedures in handling the revenue of the water refilling station.

State auditors confirmed that the P806,720 revenue of the water refilling station from June 1, 2001 to February 23, 2004 was only recorded in a notebook, while the expenses were also reflected in folders. – Rene U. Borromeo/LPM (THE FREEMAN)