Omb. Santiago lectures Hibao-an Sur brgy. officials
Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago
No less than OIC Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago lectured the barangay officials of Brgy. Hibao-an Sur, Mandurriao district during the former's visit to the Regional Office of Ombudsman Visayas at CAP Building in Gen. Luna St. last November 9.
The barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Josephine Calad were called upon to answer several allegations of a concerned citizen concerning barangay affairs.
One issue raised is the non-payment of some members of barangay tanod. Upon questioning, Calad explained that the unpaid barangay tanods are those who are usually absent.
The other complaint says of savings from absences being used by barangay officials for "happy entertainment and food" instead of returning it to the barangay coffers.
Director Santiago admonished the barangay treasurer for allowing the use of said amount for personal benefits of barangay officials.
On the signing of payroll by persons other than the actual recipient, Director Santiago advised the treasurer not to allow children or relatives of the absent barangay officials to sign the payroll. The complaint referred also to the use of barangay vehicle to bring children to school or in going to market or social meeting. Director Santiago told the punong barangay that using the barangay vehicle for unofficial business is against the law.
Santiago meanwhile advised Hibao-an barangay officials to be present in their barangay hall during office hours and to indicate in the logbook their attendance everyday.
Asked by barangay officials whether or not solicitation of fund to finance barangay projects is allowed, Director Santiago bluntly said that it is not allowed and instead they should ask voluntary contributions from their own barangay officials and next of kins.
Before the conference with Brgy. Hibao-an Sur officials, Santiago was in Cabatuan, Iloilo also to conduct lectures among the town's barangay officials.
Santiago regularly flies to Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Negros Ocidental, Bacolod City, Iloilo, Aklan and Roxas City to encourage government officials to fight graft and corruption within their ranks and solicit help from civic-minded people to report anomalies in the government.
As this developed Santiago also suggested to the officers of the Corruption Prevention Unit (CPU) to conduct a seminar for barangay captains and other barangay officials in Iloilo City to further prevent anomalies obtaining in their respective barangays.