Thursday, April 10, 2008 Dads to probe logbook tampering in Bry. Paril
A PARIL barangay councilor who was accused of tampering with the barangay’s official logbook and other malicious acts will be investigated by a Cebu City Council committee.
On mass motion, the Paril Barangay Council passed a resolution recommending the filing of a formal charge and imposing disciplinary action against Barangay Councilor Jeorge Lanza for what they described as conduct unbecoming of a barangay official.
In a barangay resolution dated March 27, the barangay officials narrated how Lanza erased the word “absent” written beside his name in the barangay’s official logbook last March 9.
Lanza allegedly replaced the word with “Peste Mo!”, an accusation that he denied during the initial investigation conducted by the barangay council.
The barangay council already agreed to adopt a policy that requires all barangay officials to sign the logbook whenever they report for duty in the barangay hall.
Malicious act
They are also required to indicate in the logbook there whereabouts and the purpose of their trips whenever they leave the barangay hall for official business.
“The actuation of Councilor Lanza showed malicious act and conduct unbecoming of a barangay official, which could be grounds for disciplinary action,” the resolution read.
“The council, as a model for good governance and a leader of its constituents, cannot tolerate such demeanor to prevent any repetition of the same incident to keep respect and harmony within the body,” the officials said.
For his part, Lanza denied any wrongdoing, prompting the barangay council to refer the matter to the Cebu City Council.
When confronted by the members of the council during an initial investigation, Lanza reportedly said: “Kinsa nakakita nga ako nag erase ug nagbutang ug ‘Peste Mo?’... Wala ko kahibawo ana, basin naay tawo nasilo nako mao nga gibuhat-buhatan na ana (Who saw me erase the entry and write Peste Mo? I have nothing to do with that. Perhaps somebody is angry with me and made this up).”
And because there is no witness who can attest that it was Lanza who tampered with the logbook, the barangay officials admit it will be difficult for them to handle the case.
They also asked Lanza about the incident when he allegedly slammed the door of the barangay hall, which he also denied, saying the door closed by itself because of the strong wind.
Investigation
The City Council received a copy of the barangay resolution, minutes of the investigation, a copy of the page of the logbook that was tampered with and a copy of the police outpost blotter report on the incident.
The city councilors agreed to refer the matter to the committee on barangay affairs, which is chaired by Association of Barangay Councils President and Councilor
Eugenio Faelnar.
Initially, the committee was asked to look into the case for mediation and if a mediation is not possible, its members will have to recommend the appropriate action to be taken against Lanza. (LCR)
