Ex-barangay captain charged for “not returning gun”

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has indicted a former barangay captain of Anopog, Pinamungajan, Cebu, for malversation of public property.

 Deputy Ombudsman Paul Elmer Clemente found sufficient ground to hold Elmerito Panlaan for trial for his alleged failure to return a firearm worth P40, 175 issued to him in 2003.

 When the new municipal mayor assumed office in Pinamungajan in 2013, the mayor issued a memorandum order requiring the municipal treasurer to account for and turn over all service vehicles and firearms owned by the municipal government.

 Clemente, however, said that based on the evidence, Panlaan failed to return the same despite repeated notice and demands.

 Instead, he submitted an affidavit stating that he no longer had custody of the firearm since 2006. Panlaan claimed that he has already surrendered the firearm to the police station.

 But Clemente said the failure of Panlaan to return the same was a “prima facie evidence that he has appropriated the missing firearm for personal use.”

 “…Panlaan failed to overcome the prima facie evidence of guilt when he was unable to produce, let alone sufficiently explain who had custody of the missing property,” Clemente added.  (FREEMAN)