BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Council has recommended the suspension of San Isidro Barangay Capt. Ronela Juaneza for 60 days while its Blue-Ribbon Committee is investigating the village official over the release of public funds amounting to P818,085.04.
In its resolution, the Council’s Blue-Ribbon Committee informed Mayor Jerry Treñas that it is probing the respondent for alleged violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act (misconduct in office and abuse of authority).
The investigation stemmed from the complaint filed by Eugenio Bolivar, Cheryl Maralit, Ruby Gallano, Rene Dimasu-ay, and Zenith Rigby. They accused Juaneza and Janette Gacuma, the village treasurer, of dishonesty, oppression, misconduct in office, and abuse of authority and violation of Republic Act 9184.
The complainants alleged that Juaneza allowed the disbursement of public funds on various dates from December 2023 to January 2024 without observing public competitive bidding.
These include purchases of office supplies worth 94,122.32; well-milled rice cost of P365,488; drugs and medicines for senior citizens for January 2024 worth 235,660.72 and encashed several checks for payment of several barangay hall’s operating expenses.
‘Malicious, baseless’
Replying to the charges, Juaneza denied the charges, saying the allegations in the complaint were malicious, self-serving, baseless, and bereft of any merit.
She claimed the case was malicious persecution hurled against her by her opponent last election. Juaneza said her opponents retaliated after filing the graft complaint against her predecessor and his treasurer over unliquidated barangay funds amounting to P1.8 million.
The village chief maintained that all their purchases and disbursement or release of barangay funds underwent the proper procedure, tackled during barangay meetings, and proceeded according to protocol.
Juaneza sought the dismissal of the complaint for lack of merit.
In the resolution, the Committee dismissed the allegations in the complaint stemming from the encashment of checks for payments of various barangay hall’s operating expenses.
However, the Committee found evidence to proceed with the investigation against Juaneza for allowing the disbursement of funds allegedly without the approval of the barangay bids and awards committee (BAC).
The Committee said Juaneza could not simply resort to “shopping” as a mode of procurement under the Government Procurement Reform Act since there was no urgency when the goods were purchased./PN
