A TOTAL of 22 barangay captains in Cebu City are facing administrative and criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman for their failure to liquidate the cash assistance they received from the City Government in previous years.
Last Wednesday, Mayor Tomas Osmeña filed a string of administrative and criminal complaints against Ermita Barangay Captain Mark Rizaldy Miral, San Antonio Barangay Captain Alan Masecampo, Kamagayan Barangay Captain Raquel Avila, Quiot Barangay Captain Pancrasio Esparis, Sta. Cruz Barangay Captain Eloise Marie Lim-Kasim, Sapangdaku Barangay Captain Lorna Damalerio, Luz Barangay Captain Jerume Pagador, Duljo-Fatima Barangay Captain Elmer Abella, Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Restituto Atillo and San Roque Barangay Captain Cyrus Lindog.
Other named respondents were Pit-os Barangay Captain Leonilo Bontilao, Parian Barangay Captain Jerimias Nuñez, San Jose Barangay Captain Joventino Ardaba, Pulangbato Barangay Captain Maria Velasquez, Sinsin Barangay Captain Ramon Ylaya Jr., San Nicolas Proper Barangay Captain Abraham Desamparado, Sawang Calero Barangay Captain Ariel Yburan, Sirao Barangay Captain Felix Limotan, Kalunasan Barangay Captain Nunilon Monares, Malubog Barangay Captain Majorita Cangmaong, Cogon Pardo Barangay Captain Harry Eran and Poblacion Pardo Barangay Captain Altea Lim.
All of them are known allies of Barug Team Rama.
Association of Barangay Councils president and Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra said the cases are politically-motivated.
Zafra, who was also among those who were sued by Osmeña, said the timing of the filing is questionable considering that the barangay elections are on Monday.
Barangay Kalunasan has the biggest unliquidated financial assistance amounting to P33.8 million, Poblacion Pardo Barangay with P25.3 million, Punta Princesa with P17.1 million, Sirao and Sawang Calero with P14.2 million, Ermita with P13.4 million, Kamagayan with P12.3 million, Pulangbato with P10.3 million and Duljo-Fatima with P10.2 million.
Barangay Parian has an unliquidated amount P9.6 million, Cogon Pardo and Sapangdaku with P8.5 million, San Nicolas Proper and Sta. Cruz Barangay with P8.2 million, Malubog ands San Antonio with P8.1 million, Pit-os, Sinsin and San Jose with P8 million, Luz with P7.7 million, San Roque with P6.08 million and Quiot with P6.7 million. (RVC)