Ex-captain pleads not guilty to malversation raps

CEBU, Philippines - A former barangay captain accused of malversation of public property yesterday pleaded not guilty to the crime when arraigned at the court.

Miguel Cabatino, ex-barangay captain of Duljo-Fatima, entered the not guilty plea before Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Judge Sylva Aguirre-Paderanga. He was assisted by Lawyer Noel Archival.

The court has set the preliminary conference and pre-trial on February 4 and March 18, 2014, respectively. 

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas earlier found probable cause to hold Cabatino for trial for violation of Article 214 of the Revised Penal Code otherwise known as malversation of public property.

He was accused of using construction materials given by the city government for the barangay's self-help project for personal benefits.

Incumbent barangay captain Elmer Abella filed the case against Cabatino after he found out that the construction materials amounting to P101,240.26 were allegedly sold by the former barangay captain in 2004.

 No less than the designated custodian, Gerardo Illustrisimo, allegedly admitted before the members of the barangay council that they sold the construction materials to pay for the labor of the workers.

Illustrisimo, now deceased, claimed that the materials were sold upon the approval of Cabatino. The former barangay captain is temporarily out on bail.—(FREEMAN)