P’sinan village heads file complaint vs mayor

ALAMINOS CITY -- Mayor Hernani Braganza here is facing a complaint for alleged violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and abuse of authority before the Office of the Ombudsman over the supposed non-release of barangay aid funds and confiscation of barangay patrol vehicles.

Charged along with Braganza were Alaminos City administrator Wilmer Panabang, budget officer Rowena Ruiz, city treasurer Shirley de la Cruz, and city planning development officer RoelAnonuevo.

Braganza dismissed the complaint as an “old harassment suit repackaged as new” and an “obvious dirty political trick.”

The complaint stemmed from the alleged withholding of P1.17 million in yearly barangay aid appropriations and the confiscation of patrol cars of 11 barangays in the city.

The complaint was filed by barangay heads Ester Bernal, Jessie Racraquin, EusebioFronda Jr., Ronald Bautista, Milagros Payas, JoeffreyOrfinada, Samuel Alcantara, Trinidad Soriano, Victor Ranches, Mario Rabadon, and Joe Regatcho.

The 11 barangay chiefs alleged that since 2010, the shares of barangays Amandiego, Balayang, Baleyadaan, Cayucay, Landoc, Pangapisan, Poblacion, San Vicente, Telbang, Victoria and Balangobong in the P1.17-million yearly barangay aid appropriations have been withheld.

In 2010, they said their patrol cars were confiscated even if their barangays had a counterpart share of P180,000 each or one-third of the total appropriation for the purchase of these vehicles.

They said the yearly financial aid to the barangays was duly provided for under the approved city appropriation ordinances of 2010 and 2011.

Out of the yearly barangay aid funds, P30,000 was supposed to be the share of each of the 39 barangays of Alaminos City, they said.

They said their barangays’ shares of the annual financial aid have been withheld “despite our verbal request and follow-ups without apparent reason whatsoever,” depriving their constituents of basic services.

But Braganza, who is running for governor, said the allegations “are rehashed issues being revived now in time for the election period after I filed my candidacy.”

“The reason is very glaring and a close check at those who filed the cases would further reveal their ulterior motive,” he said.

Braganza’s lawyers have moved for the dismissal of the complaint, citing perjurious statements made by the complaining barangay heads in their allegations.

He said the city budget office has provided the Ombudsman with documents proving that all the barangays had received the barangay aid due them.

He said documents, including checks and bank records, showed that the complainants were lying.

“We believe we have strong grounds to charge them with perjury,” he added.

On the barangay vehicles, Braganza said the city government recalled the L-300 Mitsubishi vans for repair and proper maintenance after they were found to be unserviceable and unsafe for transport.

“It is a pity that the complainants never took efforts to take care of government property entrusted to them for the delivery of services to their constituents,” he said.