Group’s past head has pending account

CEBU, Philippines - After receiving P4,000 cash assistance from the city government, the newly-elected officers for senior citizens in Barangay Zapatera temporarily suspended its collection for 2013 until the previous president hands in an accounting report.

Barangay Zapatera Senior Citizens Organization (BZSCO) Vice President Rodolfo Ugang Sr. said they have been applying “maximum diplomacy” in asking past president Josefina Nuñez to cooperate with them.

“We have already sent two letters politely asking her to turn over an audit of previous collections  and expenses. We are not forcing her to do it but she has to because that’s the right thing to do,” Ugang told The FREEMAN.

Reelected BZSCO treasurer Belen Edillon said she was not able to function well since the past president still authorized her predecessor to transact for their organization.

“Yes, I was the treasurer last year pero naa man gihapon ang treasurer nga akong gipulihan.  Ang rason ni Pina (Nuñez) kay siya daw ang authorized mo-transact sa bangko.  Mao to nawad-an ko’g gana kay dili man gihapon ko kalihok,” Edillon explained.

The officers, who took oath in City Hall after their election last February 9, also learned from members that the past president collected P340 from each member last December 8 as an advance collection for 2013.

Edillon showed the media a temporary receipt issued to a senior citizen amounting to P340.

“Our membership fee used to only be composed of have a one-time annual payment of P100 and P20 monthly dues.  Last December, she made it into P100 membership plus a one-time payment of P240 for the supposed monthly dues. This is why it reached to P340,” she explained.

Ugang said they have not elevated their concern to the Cebu City Office of Senior Citizen Affairs because they are giving the past president a chance to produce the financial report.

“We will wait until the third letter.  If she still refuses to heed our

 request, that’s the time we will seek OSCA’s intervention,” he added.

Based on records, there are about 456 senior citizen members of BZSCO.(FREEMAN)