Garganera questions timing of filing of case vs captains

A staunch critic of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has questioned the timing of the filing of charges against opposition-allied barangay captains over unliquidated and unreturned financial aid.

Councilor Joel Garganera was the Tinago barangay captain when the city distributed financial aid before he assumed his position as city councilor in 2016.

“How come the mayor is running after us? The accounting and the Commission on Audit should be on top of that. Naliquidate na na,” Garganera told reporters.

Last Wednesday afternoon, Osmeña sued Barangay Captains Phillip Zafra (Tisa), Maria Yvonne Feliciano (Calamba), Yolandito Cagang (Basak Pardo), Norman Navarro (Basak San Nicolas), Trifonio Lequigan, Jr. (Kamputhaw), Julius Guioguio (Pasil), Lemar Alcover (Sambag I) and Rafael Briones (Tinago).

The mayor filed the complaint before the Office of the OmbudsmanVisayas and accused the barangay officials of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and conduct unbecoming a public official, and violation of the Revised Penal Code.

To recall, COA disallowed the city’s P800-million aid to the City Barangays-Financial Assistance for various projects due to the “lack of required authorization” of the City Council in 2016. The financial assistance was given during the time of former mayor Michael Rama in 2015.

Garganera said it is the first time that the city mayor is going after the barangay captains over unliquidated assistance.

When he was barangay captain of Tinago, he remembered that portion of the P8-million aid from the city was used to acquire bus and fire truck.

He said he will help the current administration of Barangay Tinago answer the complaint, since it was during his time that the cash aid was used.

“That’s been liquidated already. Pero ang timing ba. Kami gyud nga naa sa opposition karon?” he said.

Zafra, who is also the president of Association of Barangay CouncilsCebu City Chapter, shared the same sentiments with Garganera, considering that the case was filed days prior to the barangay and SK elections.

“That’s electioneering against us. Ngano gud tawn wala niya giapil og file sa kaso iyang kaalyado? This is a clear political harassment. It’s a desperate move of the mayor basin og nathreaten siya kay dili lig-on iyang mga kandidato,” Zafra earlier said.

He believed that the mayor is just sensitive nowadays, considering that the Supreme Court has order the city government to stop dumping rubbish at the Inayawan landfill and continue its rehabilitation.

Osmeña was unavailable for comment as of yesterday since he is still in South Korea to continue Cebu’s “sister cities” ties with Yeosu.