CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma defended officials of the Theotokos Foundation in Carcar City over allegations that they violated their by-laws.
Palma told Sun.Star Cebu that during a meeting with them last June, he brought the issue to light after receiving a complaint on the matter.
But he said that when they checked the financial statements of the members, they found no irregularities as to how the money donated to the foundation was spent.
“If you see it, the money really went to those intended for its use. If you go to the shrine, you could see that the church there has been improved due to the proper use of donated funds,” Palma said.
Investigation
But with a complaint lodged against the foundation, Palma said he plans to deploy one of the archdiocese’s two auxiliary bishops to investigate the matter.
At least 11 officials of the Theotokos Foundation are facing a complaint in court.
Petitioner Venus Perez of Barangay Perrelos, Carcar City said they have been members of the board of trustees in the past 10 years without having been elected.
Perez claimed that some members submitted general information sheets stating they are “duly-elected” members and officers of the board despite the absence of any election from 2002 until this year.
She also claimed that since 2005, the group’s board has been taking control of the foundation’s financial transactions.
Respondents
They also allegedly declared a “combined liabilities and financial transactions” of the foundation amounting to P7.4 million in 2014.
Respondents in the com-plaint are Rev. Fr. John Rona, Theotokos Foundation president; Msgr. Fred Kriekenbeek, chairman; Msgr. Esteban Binghay, treasurer; Msgr. Rommel Kintanar, auditor; Sr. Laarni Landrito, secretary; and Sr. Rose Batoon, Sr. Remy Yares, Bro. Julius Daan, Astrid Busa and lawyer Makilito Mahinay, the foundation’s board of directors.
In an earlier interview, Binghay told Sun.Star Cebu that he and members of the foundation’s board will answer the complaint in a proper forum.