The Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas has administratively sanctioned seven local government officials from Eastern Samar and Leyte, after they were found liable for malfeasance in office.
In a Decision, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente ordered the dismissal from the service of Sergio Batistis, Jr., Sangunniang Bayan member of Albuera, Leyte. Batistis was found guilty of Serious Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. Respondent was also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and barred from taking the civil service examination with forfeiture of retirement benefits.
Complainant narrated that Batistis was involved in the selling of fake certificates of appearance and receipts to interested participants of the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) National Board meetings.
In June 2015, Batistis was entrapped and arrested for selling falsified PCL official receipts and certificates of appearance. When arrested, he was found in possession of 22 pieces of fake PCL receipts, 28 fake certificates of registration and P103,500.00 in cash.
Deputy Clemente said that “respondent’s act is not only reprehensible but must not be countenanced.”
He also ordered the Regional Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the penalty, with copies of the Decision forwarded to the Commission on Elections, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit and the Government Service Insurance System.
In a separate case, the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas found Guian, Eastern Samar officials, Arsenio Salamida, Esperanza Cotin, Ma. Nenita Ecleo, Felipe Padual, Danilo Colandog and Gilberto Labicane guilty of Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service and were ordered suspended without pay for six months and one day.
Investigation found that respondents, acting as the municipal Bids and Awards Committee, authorized the procurement of a P2.1million remanufactured fire truck without public bidding in February 2007. The respondents authorized the acquisition through negotiated procurement by making it appear that two public biddings were previously conducted. The contract, purchase order and disbursement voucher were all processed in one day.
Deputy Clemente ordered the mayor of Guian to implement the penalty and in case of separation from the service, the suspension is convertible to a fine equivalent to respondents six months’ salary.###