Mayor says complaint against him was "politically-driven"

CEBU, Philippines - Ginatilan town Mayor Dean Michael Singco has asked the Provincial Board to dismiss the complaint filed against him by a barangay captain for lack of legal basis and merit.

Singco, who was accused by Poblacion barangay captain Femma Duterte before the committee on complaints and investigation of the provincial board for abuse of authority, oppression and grave misconduct, said the complaint was “politically-driven” and should be dismissed completely. 

The complaint is now pending before the committee on investigation and complaints chaired by Provincial Board Member Joven Mondigo.

Duterte accused Singco of trying to delay four barangay road projects by pulling out some materials needed for road concreting. The Office of the Governor has initiated the funding for concreting of barangay roads in Anao, Cagsing, Looc and Poblacion through a counter-parting scheme.

A memorandum of agreement was executed between the provincial government and Singco on the implementation of the road projects. Under the MOA, the provincial government will provide cement for the concreting while the municipal government will provide sand and gravel, concrete mixer, vibrator, deformed bars and other materials while the barangay will provide the manpower.

According to Duterte, the barangay council passed a resolution hiring the services of Engr. Reynaldo Dinglasa as foreman of the project.

With the sand and gravel committed by the municipality, Singco reportedly instructed the barangay to get the supply from the stockpile of the town.

The barangay, which implemented the project in sitio Mini, was able to haul sand and gravel from the municipal stockpile. But on January 13, Duterte said that Singco “is planning to pull out the sand and gravel after knowing that the barangay contracted the services of Dinglasa.”

Duterte said she went to the mayor’s office and was informed to “replace our foreman” as there were others who could do the job otherwise the municipal government will pull out the materials.

While the construction was implemented and completed, Duterte said the pulling out of construction materials had caused injury to the barangay because it forced them to spend their own funds.

But Singco, in a reply sent to The FREEMAN, denied the accusations of Duterte and sought for outright dismissal of the complaint which he described as purely “politically-driven.”

“The allegation that the materials were pulled out of the barangay because of him has no bearing and consequence to the action of the affiant in instilling obedience, adherence to and proper observance of agreed terms and conditions, laws and regulations of which Barangay Poblacion is known to violate many times,” Singco said.

Singco also said the recommendation to replace Dinglasa as foreman is only to safeguard and unwanted spending of barangay funds.

According to him, the program of works of Poblacion and disbursed for supply of labor amounted to P190,061 while other barangays completed only P73,175.

Furthermore, Singco revealed that the barangay prepared the POWE with an over-priced appropriation of P190,061 instead of P73,175 as they have inserted other unnecessary and overpriced. 

“A thorough investigation on the disbursements of barangay funds not only for the road concreting projects of the barangay but of all projects implemented under the incumbent barangay captain be conducted,” Singco asked the provincial board.

Singco also said that over-priced expenses for materials in the road concreting projects should be personally shouldered by the barangay captain. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)