TWO village officials from Santander town, Cebu are facing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly usurping the functions of their youth council chief.
El Cid Rusiana, Sangguniang Kabataan chief of Barangay Talisay, Santander, filed the administrative cases against Talisay Barangay Captain Maragarito Onlagada, Jr., and Cherry Garingo, the village treasurer.
Rusiana said that Onlagada and Garingo violated Republic Act 2015, or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, when they refused to release to his office the annual budget amounting to P245, 082.
“It is my prayer that these two barangay officials be meted out the rightful punishments fit and appropriate for their dishonest and illegal acts and wrongdoings,” read Rusiana’s affidavit.
In his complaint-affidavit, Rusiana said the respondents denied his lawful request to have the funds allotted for his office separated from the village’s general fund.
Pursuant to RA 2015, Rusiana said the fund should be set aside and deposited in a bank account for SK-Barangay Talisay.
The law provides the village youth council should shall have financial independence in terms of its operations, disbursement, and encashment of public funds, income, and expenditures.
Since he assumed office last July 1, Rusiana said, the respondents denied his request to have a separate allocation for his office.
Instead, he was given a copy of the “Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program” reportedly prepared by the respondents.
“They usurped the functions of the Sangguniang Kabataan. Their act of giving me the annual investment program, which they made without my permission, is a direct affront to my office,” said Rusiana. (GMD)