Ombud clears ex-brgy treasurer in Catmon of criminal complaint

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas cleared a former barangay treasurer in Catmon, Cebu from a criminal complaint for lack of merit.

Anti-graft investigator Amy Rose Soler-Rellin dismissed the complaint against Juanita Sucalit-Masongsong after the complainant failed to present evidence that the respondent failed to account for the barangay funds.

Masongsong former treasurer of Barangay Corazon, Catmon, Cebu was accused by Barangay Captain Guillermo Bragat of not having accounted the barangay funds.

Bragat claimed that Masongsong refused to turn over to the barangay hall the financial records of the barangay even if her services were already terminated.

Bragat said he appointed a new treasurer on December 1, 2010 after losing trust and confidence on Masongsong. The complainant said that he instructed Masongsong to turn over all the records but the latter allegedly refused.

Masongsong however said she turned over the records to the municipal treasurer because the appointed treasurer did not have the concurrence from the barangay council.

Masongsong presented documents as evidence to prove that the records of the barangay were turned over by her to the municipal treasurer.

“There is nothing in the record that could provide even the slightest hint which transaction or matter respondent should have rendered an account of. The mere declaration that respondent failed to turn over documents is insufficient to impute criminal wrongdoing on the part of herein respondent,” the anti-graft body ruled. (FREEMAN)