A BARANGAY captain from Mandaue City and three others are facing criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for allegedly using government vehicles to install election posters last Feb. 27.
Tabok Barangay Councilor Windyl Alilin filed the complaint accusing Tabok Barangay Captain Dario Tariman of violating the Ombudsman Act of 1989, Local Government Code, and the Commission on Audit circular on the use of government vehicles.
Alilin also impleaded Thadeo Iwayan, Apil Perez, and Boboy Tundag, who are job-order workers of the barangay.
Alilin said he was in their house when he noticed a government vehicle loaded with huge political tarpaulins of the Liberal Party last Feb. 27.
When he checked, Alilin said he found out the vehicle was the multicab of Barangay Tabok. He took photos of the incident and confronted the three job-workers.
But one of the job-order workers allegedly told him, “We followed the instruction of barangay captain.”
The respondents then proceeded to install more tarpaulins.
“I realized that they had the balls to continue because they were in conspiracy with the barangay captain to have the tarpaulins installed,” said Alilin.
Politically motivated
He said installing political streamers using a government vehicle violates the law, which provides that government cars should be used for official business only.
Alilin asked Deputy Ombudsman Paul Elmer Clemente to conduct a preliminary investigation on the case and, if warranted, suspend or dismiss the respondents.
Tariman said he believes the reason behind the complaint is politics.
“Naa mana sya sa pikas side (Alilin belongs to the other party),” Tariman said.
He denied Alilin’s allegations. “Ako’ng gipatangtang sa poster (I asked my staff to remove the posters because these were illegally posted).”
Tariman said the campaign materials were hanging on electric posts.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had advised candidates and their supporters to observe the rules on campaigning.
Candidates are not allowed to post, display, or exhibit any election campaign or propaganda materials outside authorized common posters areas, in public places, or in private properties without the consent of the owner.
Waiting sheds, sidewalks, street and lamp posts, electric posts and wires are considered public places.
Tariman said he has not yet received the copy of the complaint, but he is willing to answer it.
He said there are even campaign materials posted on trees behind the barangay gym. He said he didn’t have these removed to prove that the other political party violated the law.