Promulgation of graft raps vs Olan-olan moved

THE promulgation of the graft case filed against Barangay 76-A Bucana chief Robert Olan-olan was postponed to July 11 to a judicial audit conducted by the Supreme Court (SC) at all local courts.

Court records showed the announcement of the violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) case filed against Olan-olan.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 has cancelled all hearing schedules from June 26 to June 29 due to the announced judicial audit of the SC.

Olan-olan was sued in 2005 for allegedly terminating four barangay policemen identified as Jose Samalca, Ruperto Solon, Pedro Maamo and Paulino Culanag.

An information of the case obtained by Sun.Star Davao from lawyer William Tiu of the Office of the Ombudsman showed that the incident happened sometime in December 2004.

Ombudsman-prosecutor Maria Iluminada Lapid-Viva recommended the filing of the case before RTC on October 21, 2005.

Viva said Olan-olan committed a "gross inexcusable negligence" for terminating without due process the four and withholding their salary/honorarium for December 2004.

But Olan-olan said he is hopeful that he will be acquitted from the case.

He said it is not true that he illegally terminated the four. In fact, he sought their reply to his notices explaining their failure to attend to their duties, he added.

He said he withheld the salary of the four since they have not rendered any service to the barangay as Lupon Tagapamayapa based on log book record. (ANC)