Additional charges filed against village execs
SEVEN Cebu City barangay chairpersons who were among the 47 that refused return the city-issued sports utility vehicles (SUVs) faced additional charges filed by Cebu City Acting Mayor Margot Osmeña yesterday.
The officials were charged with violating articles 221 and 231 of The Revised Penal Code yesterday at Cebu City Prosecutor’s office, said City Legal Office chief Atty. Eleodoro Diaz IV.
Diaz said Article 221 states sanctions such as “arresto mayor” on public officials who fail to return public funds or property.
He said this provision applies “to any public officer who, being ordered to competent authority to deliver any property in his custody or under his administration shall refuse to make such delivery.”
Diaz said Article 231 pertains to the “open disobedience” of the barangay officials in following Osmeña’s memorandum dated May 17 recalling all city-issued vehicles.
Osmeña said the city needs to take action against those remaining barangay officials whom she described as “hard-headed” for refusing to return the vehicles.
“Because we have to deal with it already. We are just following the law,” she said.
The seven are Tisa barangay chairman and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Philip Zafra, Tinago barangay chairperson and ABC vice president Joel Garganera, Apas barangay chairperson Ramil Ayuman, Basak Pardo barangay chairman Yolandito Cagang, Buot barangay chairperson Rosalita Callino, Sambag I barangay chairperson Lemar Alcover, and Tagba-o barangay chairperson Ana Tabal.
Barangays Apas, Buot, Tagba-o, Tinago, and Tisa have yet to return two vehicles each while Basak Pardo and Sambag I still have to return one vehicle each.
They and the 40 barangay officials were charged with administrative and criminal cases at the Ombudsman Visayas.
Sought for comments, Ayuman said he is not surprised.
“She has not yet filed a case against us? She always filed a case against us. She should have waited because we will return the vehicles once her husband assumes office,” he said.
Team Rama ally and Councilor-elect Jose Daluz III said Osmeña made a wise choice in filing a case against the seven barangay chairpersons.
“In the filing of a court case, they are made to submit their reply without having to be arrested,” he said.
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