Inayawan captain asks Ombuds to dismiss nepotism case

CEBU, Philippines - Inayawan Barangay Captain Rustico Ignacio is asking the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas to dismiss the criminal complaint for nepotism against him citing lack of legal basis.

Ignacio, who is now on his second term as barangay captain, was charged for nepotism after he hired Manolo Villareal as barangay secretary. Villareal is the brother of Councilman Ernesto Villareal, who was among the members of the barangay council who confirmed the appointment of the barangay secretary.

In asking for the dismissal of the complaint, Ignacio said his appointment of Villareal did not violate any provision of the Local Government Code contrary to the accusation made by an anonymous complainant.

The unknown complainant asked the anti-graft office to investigate Ignacio for alleged violation of Section 394 of the Local Government Code, which states that; “No person shall be appointed barangay secretary if he is a sangguniang barangay member, a government employee or a relative of the punong barangay within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.”

Ignacio said Villareal was not his relative for him to be liable of nepotism. He added that the appointment of the barangay secretary also does not require attestation by the Civil Service Commission.

“This must have been done by the usual sour losers or previous incumbents who did not make it in their reelection bid,” Ignacio said.

He said he already had in mind who could be the people responsible in filing a “malicious” complaint against him. — (FREEMAN)