Barangay Lahug captain suspended

CEBU, Philippines - For the alleged unauthorized use of a government-issued vehicle in 2014, Lahug, Cebu City Barangay Captain Jovito Taborada Jr. has been ordered suspended for one month and one day by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Darius Sagadal found him guilty of simple misconduct over the use of the vehicle without a valid trip ticket.

“The Office finds respondent liable for simple misconduct for allowing the use of the vehicle in the afternoon of 20 December 2014 without a trip ticket. An examination of the trip ticket reveals that the purpose of the trip was to refuel (9:35 a.m. to 9:52 a.m.) then return to garage (10:42 a.m. to 11:14 a.m.) only. Its use in the afternoon is, therefore, no longer covered by the trip ticket,” read the decision.

Serving as complainant, the Ombudsman Visayas’ Field Investigation Office alleged that Taborada violated paragraph V(1) of the Commission on Audit Circular 75-6 and Section 361(d) of the General Accounting and Auditing Manual.

White Mitsubishi Strada (SKY 348) was spotted near JY Square Mall, a commercial establishment in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City on December 20, 2014, a Saturday, at 2:15 p.m.

Taborada argued they were having a cleanup drive activity on that date and he ordered the employees to go to the place to buy needed supplies for the cleanup using the vehicle.

He said he failed to update the trip ticket as he was already busy with the cleanup activity.

The use of the vehicle on that occasion, he argued, can be categorized as an emergency case, which is allowed under COA Circular 75-6.

Sagadal, though, ruled that the incident cannot be labeled as an emergency case since an emergency situation requires immediate attention, which does not apply in that case.

“An emergency is a situation requiring immediate attention and remedial action. It involves injury, loss of life, damage to the property, or catastrophic interference with the normal activities, a sudden, unexpected, or impending situation,” he said.

“The shortage of cleaning supplies in the barangay’s cleanup drive does not closely involve injury, loss of life, damage to the property, or immediate catastrophe,” he added. (FREEMAN)