Ombud suspends village officials for misconduct

THE Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has suspended all officials of Barangay Timawa Tanza Zone II in Iloilo City for an administrative offense.

The officials committed “simple misconduct” and meted a penalty of one month suspension from the service.

The 11 barangay officials headed by village chief Antonio Roberto are also facing criminal liability of five counts for falsification of public documents that may merit separation from service or eternal disqualification and imprisonment.

Aside from Roberto, also charged for administrative and criminal offenses are Councilors Dioscoro Ebide Jr., Felma Roberto, Vhon Hofelia, Danilo Janeo, Alken Bergantinos, Epifanio Gray and Ma. Suzette Vargas.

Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Kent Gray, village secretary Lydia Melgar and treasurer Edna Macabanti are also lumped up in the same charges.

City director Ferdinand Panes of the Department of Interior and Local Government said the respondents can still appeal with the Ombudsman for a motion for reconsideration or any other legal remedies within five days upon receipt of the decision.

Complainant Danilo Deraco charged the barangay officials for jointly conspiring and attesting that Ebide Jr. was present during the seven sessions held March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17, May 1, May 15 and June 5, 2011 and included these in the payroll covering the months of January to May 2011.

Deraco is the brother of the late Bernard Deraco who was shot dead by the Ebide.

However, Ebide was under hospital arrest and subsequently detained at the Iloilo City police detention cell and did not attend the seven sessions. But the councilor affixed his signature in the payroll from January to May 2011.

The Ombudsman said the act could not have been accomplished were it not for the cooperation and connivance of the respondents.

The complained barangay officials have transgressed some established and definite rule of action, particularly unlawful behavior of being public officers, making them liable for the administrative offense of simple misconduct.

The administrative case was investigated by Euphemia Bacalso, graft investigator and prosecution officer III, and approved by Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol.

Panes said the city mayor will implement the Ombudsman decision after all legal remedies sought like the motion for reconsideration are dismissed.