Balamban HR officer faces estafa complaint

Charges of estafa were filed against a department head of the municipal government of Balamban town, in midwest Cebu before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Jude Dennis Aguanta, a native of Asturias town, filed the charges against Napoleon Moralde, the human resource management officer of the Balamban municipal government.

Aguanta accused Moralde of submitting a bogus certification of employment from a Mandaue City-based company in 2006.  Moralde dismissed the complaint, saying  it was a personal attack from Aguanta who believed he caused his “untimely resignation from the service.”

In his counter affidavit, Moralde argued that the element of estafa is not present in the complaint.

He said  he didn’t imitate anyone’s signature or handwriting nor did he cause any damage to Aguanta for the alleged falsification.

CERTIFICATION

Aguanta said Moralde submitted a certificate of employment from YY (Yap Yok) and Company in 2006 where he worked as HR officer from 1987 to 1990.

However, YY and Company denied Moralde’s affiliation with the company last year, saying  Moralde was “never employed in any capacity” in their firm. Since his employment eight years ago, Moralde rose from the ranks  and was  promoted by Balamban Mayor Ace Binghay as the municipal government’s human resource officer. He said Aguanta’s previous employer, YY and Company, made a negative certification last November, saying the former was “never employed in any capacity.”

Aguanta said the employment deprived residents of Balamban of the services of a legitimate HR officer.