Ombudsman suspends 2 QC brgy. execs over P22.28M unsettled disallowances, ghost projects

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The Office of the Ombudsman has slapped a six-month preventive suspension against Quezon City Quirino 3B (Claro) Punong Barangay Ronald Tagle and Barangay Treasurer Richelle Ann Santillan over alleged unsettled audit disallowances and non-existent projects.

In a five-page order, the Ombudsman found that the evidence of guilt against the respondents was strong, citing Commission on Audit (COA) findings which showed non-submission of required supporting documents, as well as irregularities in the utilization, documentation, and processing of barangay funds, including non-submission of supporting documents for such fund utilization.

“Tagle, in conspiracy with Santillan, withdrew the savings of Barangay Quirino 3B (Claro) from 2018 to 2023 for non-existent or ghost projects,” the order read.

Specifically, the Ombudsman said that P1.4 million worth of procurement transactions in 2017 and 2018 were unsupported by complete documentation.

The Ombudsman also cited the following undocumented disbursements under the watch of the respondents:

• P15.9 million in 2020
• P23.9 million in 2021
• P17.64 million in 2022 and
• P17.88 million in 2023

Further the Ombudsman said that Tagle and Santillan authorized the release of P22.7 million of public funds without the required disbursement vouchers, resulting in COA's issuance of notices of disallowance.

“Respondents' administrative violation appears to be supported by evidence. The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondents is strong, the charges against them involve Grave Misconduct, and Gross Neglect of Duty,” the Ombudsman said.

"The charges against them involved offenses that may warrant removal from service, and their continued stay in office could prejudice the administrative proceedings," the order added.

The complaint against the barangay officials was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office.

The anti-graft body tasked Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte to immediately implement the preventive suspension and inform the Office of the Ombudsman of the action taken within three days of receipt of the order.

Sought for comment, Tagle and Santillan told GMA News Online via phone call that they are continuously addressing the COA findings and have filed a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman on October 30. —AOL, GMA News