THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) called on the Cebu City government to dismiss a City Hall employee who was found guilty of grave misconduct by the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Regional DILG Director Danilo Almendras formally informed Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in a letter that former barangay Guadalupe councilman Ruben Baculi was dismissed in relation to the alleged misuse of P6.5 million pork barrel funds.
Baculi, who now works as Rama’s executive assistant, was one of several barangay officials of Guadalupe ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman for purchasing seedlings, hoses and pipes worth P6.5 million in 2006 and 2007 without undergoing competitive bidding.
The purchases were intended for a livelihood project funded using the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former congressman Antonio Cuenco of Cebu City’s south district.
Rama asked the City Legal Office to issue a legal opinion on the matter. Atty. Eleodoro Diaz, who issued the letter to Baculi, said Baculi has five days to submit his written response.
He said Baculi asked for time to file a petition for review with the Court of Appeals.