Tomas’ case filing spree continues: 36 captains sued

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has filed complaints against 22 more opposition barangay captains who allegedly failed to liquidate cash assistance from the city.

That brings to 36 the number of village chiefs associated with the Barug Team Rama-PDP Laban who have been slapped with administrative and criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman by the sitting mayor.

“As City Mayor, I caused the investigation of these city barangays and requested official records from the Office of the City Accountant. To my surprise, official records from the Office of the City Accountant indicated that nearly all of the city barangays have failed to submit liquidation reports for substantial amounts of the financial assistance received by them,” reads a portion of Osmeña’s complaints filed by the City Legal Office.

Last week, the mayor also filed cases against 14 opposition-allied barangay captains over the same reason.

Osmeña already admitted that he intentionally filed the cases during the election period to let the constituents of the barangays know the officials who reportedly failed to liquidate the city’s aid to them even though it was disallowed by the Commission on Audit.

The latest batch of barangay captains sued includes Jeremias Nuñez (Pari-an), Harry Eran (Cogon-Pardo), Jerume Pagador (Luz), Pancrasio Esparis (Quiot), Maria Velasquez (Pulangbato), Restituto Atillo (Punta Princesa), Alan Masecampo (San Antonio), Cyrus Lindog (San Roque), Ramon Ylaya Jr. (Sinsin), and Lorna Damalerio (Sapangdaku).

Others are Elmer Abella (Duljo-Fatima), Mark Rizaldy Miral (Ermita), Nunilon Monares (Kalunasan), Raquel Avila (Kamagayan), Majorita Cangmaong (Malubog), Leonilo Bontilao (Pit-os), Altea Lim (Poblacion Pardo), Joventino Ardaba (San Jose), Abraham Desamparado (San Nicolas Proper), Ariel Yburan (Sawang Calero), Felix Limotan (Sirao), and Eloise Marie Lim-Kasim (Sta. Cruz).

Over the last several years, the city government has been extending financial aid to the barangays to fund their projects.

In 2016, however, COA disallowed the city’s P800-million aid to the barangays citing lack of required authority from the City Council.

Osmeña said he sent notices to the barangays ordering them to liquidate or return the disallowed aid. Yet only few, he said, have heeded his order.

Having exhausted all available remedies, the mayor is now seeking Ombudsman’s intervention to compel the barangay captains to return the unused amounts or submit liquidation reports.

Osmeña is also asking the anti-graft office to initiate the appropriate criminal and/or administrative cases against the barangay officials.

Phillip Zafra, president of the Association of Barangay Councils in Cebu City, described the mayor’s move as “electioneering.”

He said Osmeña has resorted to “desperate moves” knowing that opposition barangay officials have stronger foundation compared to the allies of the mayor.

Zafra, the barangay captain of Tisa, was among the first set of barangay officials sued by Osmeña.

Altea Lim, member of the ABC board of directors, said she is hoping that the mayor will also pursue charges against previous barangay officials who failed to account for the assistance.

“Mao na ang gigamit against Team Rama nga mga barangay officials. Dapat fair and square unta ani nga issue. Kihaon sab ang mga kapitan nga iyang kaalyado nga wala pod maka-liquidate,” she said.

Lim said her barangay, Poblacion Pardo, received P10 million from the city and bulk of the amount is still intact in the bank.

The barangay, she said, only spent about P600,000 of the aid, which is still being liquidated.

“Wala intawn na namo kawata ang kwarta sa barangay. Dili lang unta himoon nga pagguba sa among pangalan,” she said.

On Wednesday, Osmeña admitted spending his own money to print and distribute flyers containing the names of the barangay captains who have reportedly failed to liquidate.

“I’m just reporting to their constituents what kind of crooks their barangay captains are. It’s for the people to decide. Let them explain it to them,” he said. — JMD (FREEMAN)