Kap padlocks barangay offices

Mambaling standoff

CEBU, Philippines — The annual inventory of properties that Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City own failed after eight barangay offices were padlocked allegedly by suspended village chief Gines Abellana.

Acting Barangay Captain Anne Marie Vestil Palomo said the inventory team was not able to account all properties, specifically the important documents that the suspended barangay captain had earlier signed.

These eight offices include the Secretary’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, Barangay Captain’s Office, Sangguniang Kabataan building, Clean and Green warehouse, Audio Visual Room, official’s office, and Day Care Center.

“Ang inventory is a yearly process, that’s mandatory. Naabot nata sa February, unya wala ta nakapahigayon og annual inventory pag end of the month of December. And naay transition of the punong barangay. There is a need nga makita nato ang cash counts and financial documents,” she told reporters yesterday.

It is over a month already that Abellana was suspended from office after the City Council handed down a decision on the administrative complaint filed against him.

The suspension stemmed from his failure to release the honoraria of four Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan affiliated Barangay Councilors Edwil Managbanag, Victoriano Laborte, Neonita Cuestas and Palomo from July to December 2018.

In fact, tension ran high at the barangay hall yesterday after Abellana refused to unlock the offices, claiming that Palomo has no authority to conduct an inventory.

“…Because they have no authority. I have the order of the Office of the President nga the suspension is stayed with the filing of my appeal. Unya dili man siya kasabot ana. If I can pay the docket fee and if I can secure the certificate that my appeal was filed on time, the suspension is stayed. When it is stayed, it cannot be implemented anymore,” he said.

Abellana said he was able to pay the docket fee of his appeal with the Department of the Interior and Local Government Central Office and is now waiting for the certification that he filed his appeal.

He filed the appeal because he is questioning the suspension that was implemented against him. Abellana added that the DILG is the only government body that can implement suspension orders.

Last January 9, the Office of the Secretariat served the suspension order to Abellana, a day after the City Council ruled on the administrative complaints against him.

“The notice of DILG must come from the Office of the President because the Office of the President is now handling this case because of my appeal,” Abellana said.

Palomo said she sought the opinion of the DILG-Cebu City giving her a go signal to proceed with the inventory.

That is why she issued an Executive Order No. 2019-001 creating the barangay inventory team last February 6.

Palomo is the chairperson of the team and Cuestas as the vice-chairperson.

The members include Laborte; barangay secretary Luvie Lynn Lauron; cashier or administrative staff Alfredo Medalle; barangay treasurer Ivy Gabiana and others.

Their role and responsibilities include the conduct of an inventory of properties and money accountabilities; conduct a turnover ceremony and submission report; among others.

Yesterday, the barangay inventory team was only able to list down the several properties such as typewriter, tables, air-conditioning system.

Palomo said she has no problem to sit down with Abellana to settle down the issue, so that the delivery of basic services will not be hampered. (FREEMAN)