Ombudsman absolves councilman of criminal, administrative charges

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has cleared a barangay councilman of Daan Paz, Poro, Camotes from criminal and administrative complaints for insufficiency of evidence.

The anti-graft office found no sufficient evidence to indict Councilman Bernardita Fabroa of the complaints filed by a certain Michail Gonzales.

Gonzales sued Fabroa for violations of the environment law, Oplan Red Plate and misconduct. She was accused of using a barangay-owned vehicle in hauling sand and gravel from the beach for personal purpose.

“Complainant failed to show that respondent Fabroa indeed used the barangay multicab for her personal interests, much less, was it used for hauling of sand and gravel,” the anti-graft decision reads.

Graft investigator Llorene Grace Razo-Ompod said the complainant failed to substantiate his allegations. The complainant only submitted photographs but no direct evidence to show that it was the respondent who used the government vehicle.

Gonzales alleged that on March 2, 2011 at about 9:00 a.m. he saw three men “hauling sand and gravel” from the beach where he was employed as caretaker. The sand and gravel were loaded into a government-owned vehicle.

Gonzales said that the haulers told him that they were hired by Fabroa, who was then having a house construction. But the respondent denied the allegation. She claimed the complaints were maliciously filed against her.

Fabroa submitted a certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to prove that no reported hauling of sand and gravel in the area.    - THE FREEMAN