‘Missing’ learning materials, nebulizers hound Baronda
The regional office of the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas is currently conducting a thorough investigation on the criminal and administrative complaints filed against Iloilo City Councilor Julienne “Jam” Baronda.
The criminal and administrative raps versus the lady councilor, who recently filed her candidacy for vice mayor in next year’s election, stemmed from the transactions involving P333,000 worth of learning materials for the city’s day care centers and nearly P500,000 worth of Nebulizer sets and Nebules for the city’s health centers.
Said learning materials and Nebulizers were alleged to have been received by recipients but the Commission on Audit (COA) reported otherwise.
“Wasted” and “missing,” the complaint went in describing the questioned learning materials, the payment for which was ordered suspended by the COA.
COA verification on Baronda’s claim that full distribution of the materials were made showed some deficiencies.
“Please explain…,” the Commission said in its post-audit accompanied by a Notice of Suspension submitted to the Ombudsman.
To note, Baronda eventually claimed that the learning materials were actually destroyed during Typhoon Frank. State auditors though pointed out receipt of Inspection and Acceptance Reports that clearly stipulated receipt last June 28, 2008. Typhoon Frank hit Iloilo June 21, 2008.
“There was a report made by Councilor Baronda on the supposed 100% distribution to the city’s Daycare centers yet when verified proved to be untrue,” excerpts of the complaint went. “The learning materials were apparently wantonly stored not in a government warehouse but in a private place said to be owned by Councilor Baronda’s boyfriend.”
City’s General Services Office (GSO) Supply Officer II Milagros Papa in a letter maintained that full delivery was indeed made with Baronda accepting such. As for the purported damage, Papa wrote, “The items stored therein could not be accounted for because of the situation of the place which is very wet and muddy and the alleged items were filed and scattered with garbage full of mud under the shady place of a private house and emit a very undesirable odor.”
Similar complaint was also made on the acquisition of Nebulizer sets and Nebules for the city’s health centers.
“Like the learning materials, the Iloilo City Government purchased nearly P.5 million of Nebulizer sets and Nebules for the health centers of Iloilo City. End-user was Councilor Baronda who reported 100% distribution to recipient health centers yet when validated and verified by COA proved otherwise,” the complaint went.
It can be recalled that the “missing” learning materials issue was first raised in the Sangguniang Panglungsod by City Councilor Antonio Pesina which prompted a “word war” between the two city legislators for more than a week.
Baronda, in earlier interviews, strongly denied Pesina’s allegations saying there were just inconsistencies in the documents as filled up by her staff.
She said then that Pesina only raised the issue to destroy her considering that the latter was also eyeing to run for vice mayor in next year’s election.
Pesina, indeed filed his certificate of candidacy for vice mayor yesterday under the ticket of Raul Gonzalez Sr.
Baronda, on the other hand, is running under the ticket of Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.
Baronda in an earlier interview said that she welcomes any investigation on the issue as she has nothing to hide and has documents to prove her claim.
