5 more 'job hires' face raps for illegal use of public funds
The number has now reached 34 Capitol personalities including six top officials of the Iloilo Provincial Government who all face malversation of public funds or illegal use of public funds.
This, as yet another group of five Capitol laborers were named respondents by Vice Governor Rolex Suplico alongside more charges against two department heads earlier named in previous complaints.
As before, the Vice-Governor stands as the sole witness. The Vice governor's uncle, Governor Niel Tupas has since vowed to fight with the charged workers and Capitol executives.
Latest group charged by Suplico are Roney Guanco, Djoanna Magbanua, Kemuel Rey Aspera and Rayanne Valenzuela all of the Provincial Budget Office. Capitol office heads who once again were named as co-respondents were Levy buenavista of the Governor's Office and Corazon Estelita Beloria of the Provincial Budget Office. An unnamed Treasurer's Office staff was also included in the complaint.
The Capitol officials turned respondents were held by Suplico liable for allegedly "conniving and confederating together and mutually helping each other, unlawfully and feloniously consented or through abandonment or negligence, permitted other persons" to take the questioned amount.
The "job hires" on the other hand, Suplico said, "connived and confederated with and mutually helped the public officers and employees named … as indispensable parties by their direct participation… in an unlawful and criminal act committed against public fund."
Serving as primary evidence submitted by the Vice Governor was a Certification made by lawyer Lorenzo Tubola, Secretary to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
"This is to certify that the 9th Sanggunian Panlalawigan ng Iloilo has not authorized the hiring through job orders for local projects of emergency or casual employees or laborers paid on a daily wage or piecework basis…," excerpts of the Certification went.
Other evidences included payrolls and office orders submitted to the City Prosecutor's Office.
Main contention of the Vice Governor in filing the complaints was that the laborers were hired and received payments minus the SP-mandated authority.