Tomas: Report unreturned Apas money

CEBU, Philippines — Amidst the controversy surrounding the contingent of Barangay Apas in Cebu City in this year’s Sinulog, individuals and business owners from whom Apas’ Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) solicited money are urged to report if they did not get a refund.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña made the call yesterday following his order for the Apas-BMO to return the solicited amounts.

"If you've not gotten a refund, come to me and I'll see to it that you'll get your refund.  I will even give it to myself but I am going to break somebody's neck after that," Osmeña said.

The supposed solicitation became controversial after members of the Apas-BMO allegedly threatened business owners that their mayor’s permit will be affected if they would not donate to the barangay’s Sinulog contingent.

Just last Sunday, the barangay’s contingent won in the Sinulog sa Barangay sa Dakbayan.

Rey Suelto, head of the contingent, has said they will refund the solicitations, which reportedly reached at least P8,000.

Last week, Osmeña fired Renato Jardaleza, a member of the Apas-BMO for allegedly threatening business owners.

Osmeña said he will support the decision of Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman as regards the filing of charges against BMO members involved in the controversy.

"Fine with me, I will support the charges but I don't make the decision… but I would support it," he said.

Ayuman is eyeing at including BMO chairman Joel Trompeta in the charges alongside Jardaleza.

Ayuman believes Trompeta is aware of how the solicitation was undertaken, considering the letter reflects his name and signature.

While he fired Jardaleza, Osmeña explained yesterday that he cannot terminate Trompeta because the latter is not an employee of City Hall.

"The head is not the head, he is not even an employee, and I cannot terminate him.  But he will not be there because I am putting Cabigon to be in charge of the BMO," he said.

Virgil Cabigon is the first councilman of Apas.

The mayor said BMO is a body formed under the mayor's office.

"There is no difference from Mike Rama's City Hall at your door steps," Osmeña said.

In a separate interview, Ayuman told The FREEMAN that his staff has seen Jardaleza doing errands using a city-issued vehicle.

“Nagtuo ko nga wala na gyud siya unya nag-drive man siya sa sakyanan sa siyudad sa pag-deliver og bugas didto sa daycare center using the government vehicle,” he said.

Ayuman said he will report the same to the mayor for appropriate action.

The issue on illegal solicitation surfaced when Ayuman received complaints from business owners.

The BMO allegedly asked business establishments to shell out up to P1 million for the barangay’s Sinulog contingent.

Section 7 (d) of RA 6713 of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees says, “Public officials and employees shall not solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office.” (FREEMAN)