THE Davao City Council committee on ethics and good governance said in the last five months, they have investigated a total of 46 cases against barangay officials in the city.
“Ubay-ubay akoang gimana na mga kaso sa atoang mga barangay officials. Atong 19th Council naa may wala pa nadesisyunan, so napadayon to siya. Naay 40 kaso ang naabot sa akoa, nadungagan pa og unom sulod sa lima ka bulan [gikan sa akong paglingkod] (We were endorsed with some previous cases from the 19th Council because no decision was made on them. There are about 40 cases from the previous council and another six cases in the last five months since I assumed office),” Davao City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr. said in an interview on the Davao City Disaster Radio on November 10, 2022.
Mahipus said about 31 cases were dismissed due to the election period.
“Kay mao man gud ang rekomendasyon sa committee kay that time naay barangay election pa ato nga pagahimoon, unya wala pa na-suspend ang election, dili mi pwede mag-investigate basta naay election nga mahitabo sa umaabot, so naay na-dismiss na mga kaso (That’s the recommendation of the committee because we are not allowed to conduct an investigation during the election period),” he said.
However, Mahipus said there are still pending cases that need to be discussed with the complainant and accused.
“Mangimbita ta atong mga nagreklamo ug sa mga opisyal pud nga ilaha lang pud tubagon ilahang mga kaso (We will invite them, the complainant and the defendant, so that they will be able to answer to the cases filed against them),” he said.
He added that government officials who are guilty of the complaints filed against them could be suspended or reprimanded, depending on the recommendation of the committee.
“Mao man ni atoang mekanismo sa atoang gobyerno aron makasiguro ta nga inyong mga kapitan ug kagawad nagtrabaho gyud og sakto ug haom sa ilahang gipanumpaan nga posisyon (This is the policy of our government – to ensure that your barangay officials are working and according to their position),” Mahipus said.
Meanwhile, Mahipus said they have received different kinds of complaints.
“Daghan klase nga reklamo gikan sa personal, related sa trabaho kanang wala nag-submit og financial requirements sa COA (Commission on Audit), bug-at na siya nga kaso, ang uban pud gikan sa ombudsman, gipasa dire sa atoang komitiba (We have received different complaints like they were not able to submit their financial requirements to COA, which is a very heavy case. There are also cases referred to us from the ombudsman)” he said.
He added that there are also personal complaints against the barangay officials.
“Ang uban personal, uban pud dili kaayo seryoso nga mga reklamo, nga gikan sa uban nagreklamo kay nausab ang batasan, gireklamo kay gisingkahan, wala naghatag og kwarta, o di kaya daghan og didang (There are also personal concerns but not that serious like the barangay official’s character have changed, or they reprimanded by the official, they did not receive any financial assistance from the barangay officials, or a barangay official is having an affair with someone),” he said.
Mahipus reminded government officials that they should observe professionalism and proper work ethics.
“Public office is a public trust man gud, naa tay mga obligasyon sa publiko sa tanan natong lihok (We have an obligation to the public) not only to be proper but to appear proper at all times,” he said.
Mahipus encouraged residents to file complaints against officials if they are not doing their jobs.
“Og kung dili maayo ang pagpadagan sa opisyal, mas maayo gyud na nga ireklamo aron mahisgutan nato aron mahibal-an nato unsa katinood ang mga reklamo ug matagaan pud og pahimangno ang mga nanerbisyo sa publiko nga magtarong tang tanan kay biskan kinsa naay tulobangonon sa gobyerno kung naay sayop (If the official is not doing their job, file a complaint against them. This will allow us in committee to look into it and remind officials that if we are in public service, we have to do that job properly),” Mahipus said. KSB