BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Council will begin hearing the administrative charges filed against San Isidro, Jaro barangay captain Ronela Juaneza.
Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson, scheduled the inquiry “in aid of legislation” on Aug. 28.
The committee will begin its preliminary conference on the release of barangay funds amounting to P818,085.04.
The City Council earlier recommended Juaneza’s suspension for 60 days while the Committee is investigating.
In its resolution, the Committee has asked Mayor Jerry Treñas to place Juaneza under preventive suspension while the investigation against the respondent for three counts of violation of Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act), which constitutes misconduct in office and abuse of authority, is ongoing.
“If left to continue in office, the safety and integrity of the records and other evidence… are in danger,” read part of the committee report.
The case 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, or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
The complainants alleged that the Government Procurement Reform Act was violated in the disbursement of public funds on various dates from December 2023 to January 2024 without observing public competitive bidding.
These, they claimed, included 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.
Juaneza denied the charges, saying the allegations were malicious, self-serving, baseless, and bereft of any merit.
She said her opponents retaliated after she filed a 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. She sought the dismissal of the complaint for lack of merit./PN
