Government car used for personal trips?

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante has questioned Mayor Johnny De los Reyes daughter's use of a government vehicle allegedly for personal trips outside the city's jurisdiction.

De los Reyes' daughter, Irish May De los Reyes-Racaza, who is currently one of the city mayor's executive assistants, denied the allegation raised by the vice mayor.

Racaza said she had just installed the red plate (SGW 816) on her vehicle just this week because it only arrived recently.

"It's unjust to accuse me of using the mayor's vehicle for my personal interests. The truth is that Mayor JVR prefers to use his personal vehicle for personal businesses, so he allowed the mayor's personnel to use vehicle to conduct their official businesses," Racaza said.

The vehicle with plate number SWJ 869 was registered in October 2014.

"I will verify why the red plate for the mayor's car didn't arrive on time," Racaza added.

Racaza, however, admitted that she keeps the vehicle in her house and insisted that she only uses the vehicle during official functions.

Villarante, who is the former ally of the mayor and runningmate in the last elections, wants the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to conduct an investigation on the matter after he allegedly received reports that the gray Hi-Lux government-issued vehicle was already used for personal affairs.

According to Villarante, the erring public servants and those without trip tickets might be considered liable under various laws, including Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), Revised Administrative Code of the Philippines, Commission on Audit circulars, Government Accounting and Auditing Manual, and other executive issuances.

Under COA rules, the use of government vehicles is only allowed for official business and should be authorized by a "trip ticket." The ticket contains the destination, purpose and duration of travel.

COA Circular No. 75-6 also states that government motor vehicles should be used strictly and exclusively for official business.

Section 4, paragraph B of Presidential Decree 1445 further provides that government funds or property shall be spent or used solely for public purposes.

The vehicle, reportedly a pick-up truck, had been operating with a government-issued red plate and without a "For Official Use Only" marking.

Joan Vebar, head of the city's General Services Office, told reporters yesterday that they were able to receive the red plate for the mayor's car last October.

Vebar said even if the vehicle is issued to the city mayor, it will still depend on the chief executive on who he would allow to use the vehicle. (FREEMAN)