Ronda brgy treasurer found guilty for neglecting duty, dismissed

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed the barangay treasurer of Libo-o, Ronda, Cebu, from the service after she was found guilty of administrative case for gross neglect of duty and grave misconduct.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer 1 Carmelle Baybay-Suson said she found enough ground to hold respondent Baby Almira Abangan administratively liable for issuing 55 checks equivalent to P1,484,477.54 without the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents.

“Wherefore, this office finds respondent guilty of the administrative offense and is meted of dismissal from the service with accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and bar from taking civil service commission,” the decision reads.

The Ombudsman directed the barangay captain of Libo-o to implement the order and to submit the compliance report before their office.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Gregoria Villagonzalo against Abangan and Roel Carreon, former barangay captain.

In her complaint, Villagonzalo alleged that Carreon committed several irregularities while he was still in office. One of these, she alleged, was when Carreon disbursed public funds by signing checks while he was on leave for a vacation abroad from October 16, 2006 to December 31, 2006.

Villagonzalo added Carreon has an alleged unliquidated cash advances amounting to P1.5 million.

Due to Villagonzalo’s complaint, the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office requested the Commission on Audit-7 to conduct a special audit on the alleged illegal disbursement of the barangay funds.

Reportedly, the disbursements of the barangay funds were not supported with disbursement vouchers, payrolls and other documents.

The former barangay officials, in their joint counter-affidavits, denied the allegations. 

Carreon said that while it is true that he applied a leave for his supposed travel, it was not materialized after his visa was not approved by the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

He claimed that he did not take an actual leave from office on the said period and that he continued to perform his function as barangay captain until the end of his term in 2007.

Abangan, for her part, denied that the checks they issued were not supported by disbursement vouchers.

She said she attached to their joint counter-affidavit the disbursement vouchers and other supporting documents for the 26 checks they issued.

However, COA said that based on their audit of the barangay funds of Barangay Libo-o for calendar year 2006 and 2007, a total of P2,276,165.74 has been disbursed without the needed documents.

The Ombudsman said though the respondents were able to present disbursement vouchers covering 26 checks, there were still 55 checks amounting to P1,484,477.54, where both respondents were the signatories, that remained unaccounted.

It said that considering Carreon was no longer in the public office, its office lost jurisdiction over him in the administrative matter. Thus the complaint filed against him was dismissed.  (FREEMAN)