Barili officer denies corruption charge

CEBU, Philippines – The Barili town administrative assistant who was earlier accused of enriching himself at the expense of his office denied the accusations lodged against him before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

In his reply submitted to the anti-graft office, Aniceto P. Mariñas, a teacher by profession, said that the accusations against him were "maliciously fabricated and imaginary and a product of an irresponsible and uncivilized mind."

Mariñas was furnished a copy via LBC of a letter-request for assistance for the Ombudsman reportedly coming from a certain Roberto Aguilar of Minolos, Barili, Cebu.

In that letter, Mariñas was accused of shamelessly enriching himself and his family by using the name and influence of his brother-mayor, Teresito Mariñas.

The Barili town mayor is facing a complaint for nepotism before the anti-graft office for allegedly appointing his relatives into positions in the municipal government.

The complainant, Kim Carmela Veloso, a resident of Barangay Poblacion in Barili, alleged that the mayor took advantage of his position by appointing his brother Aniceto as Human Resource Management Officer.

Veloso said Aniceto's appointment "is not only scandalous but prejudicial to the interest of the people of Barili." The authority given to Aniceto allegedly went beyond his designation as Administrative Assistant II.

In the Aguilar complaint, Aniceto was accused of living an extravagant lifestyle and was further accused of constructing a P2-million house and that his house helpers are paid by the municipality.

Aniceto claimed that Aguilar is a fictitious name and there is no such resident in their town.

Aniceto said there's no way he could enrich himself in his office where there are practically no transactions involving financial matters. He does not even sign checks nor approve disbursement vouchers, he said. (FREEMAN)