Barangay chief faces malversation probe

The Office of the Ombudsman has found enough basis to open a formal investigation against Camputhaw barangay captain Lorenzo Basamot and barangay treasurer Lyrna Vitor over the alleged use of barangay funds for the refueling of a personal vehicle.

In a final evaluation report, graft prevention and control officer Roderick Blazo said there is enough evidence to formally charge Basamot and Vitor with malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents, dishonesty and grave misconduct.

The Ombudsman gave weight to the affidavit of driver Ricardo Cantal who said under oath that he personally saw the written request for refueling of the barangay Multicab with Plate No. SDY-412 when in fact, Basamot reportedly instructed him to refuel his personal vehicle, a fabricated Tamaraw with Plate No. NGM-696.

This incident allegedly happened sometime in August 2002 shortly after Basamot was elected as barangay captain of Camputhaw.  During that time, Cantal said Basamot ordered him to have the vehicle refueled at Astron Gestus Caltex Fuel Station along Gorordo Avenue.

Cantal said what surprised him further was the fact that the multicab was, at that time, stored in the Banilad Auto Parts and Service Center for repair and was released only later in March 2003.  In fact, that same month, Basamot even accompanied him to the repair shop to follow-up the repairs.

The alleged refueling of Basamot’s personal vehicle was allegedly done twice a week using a written request for refueling for the multicab with Plate No. SDY-412.  The trip ticket request for the barangay multicab was allegedly falsely made and done after end of each month upon the receipt of the Original Receipt from the Astron Gestus Caltex Fuel Station.

“From the foregoing, evidence adduced established the fact that there is a prima facie case of Malversation through Falsification of Document against Barangay Captain Lorenzo M. Basamot and Treasurer Lyrna L. Vito, when they caused the release of money intended for the payment of gasoline expenses for multicab with Plate No. SDY-412 when in truth and in fact it was the fabricated Tamaraw with Plate No. NGM-696 owned by Brgy. Captain Lorenzo M. Basamot, was refueled,” the Ombudsman said.

The delivery of gasoline supplies was certified by numerous certificates of acceptance signed and received by Basamot and noted by the barangay treasurer Lyrna Vito.

The Ombudsman said that careful scrutiny on the quantity of gasoline refueled showed that while the multicab’s tank can only accommodate 35 liters, there were quantities of gasoline refueled that exceeded 35 liters.

“Therefore, it can be concluded that it was not the multicab that was refueled and corroborates to the attestation of Mr. Ricardo Cantal that it was the fabricated Tamaraw owned by Brgy. Captain Basamot that was refueled,” the Ombudsman added.

The Ombudsman further said that the falsification of documents, which was the necessary means to commit crime of malversation, makes the instant crime a complex crime under the Revised Penal Code.

The complaint against Basamot was filed by the barangay’s Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Daryl Surian and barangay councilmen Rodnie Ray Tumulak, Enrique Bacalan, Ronald Anthony Librando and Juan Daño Jr.  — Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP