Exec on Ombudsman case: Is helping people wrong?

CAPIZ – Sigma, Capiz vice mayor Stephen Alayon brushed of f t he g r a f t complaint f i l ed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He denied doing anything illegal or stealing public funds.

I t was Sigma mayor Christopher Vincent Andaya who filed the complaint against Andaya. He alleged that P265,800 of funds for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) under t he Vice Mayor’s Office was converted into f i nancial assistance and disbursed without authority of any law, ordinance or appropriation resolution from the Sangguniang Bayan.

“Sala ina bala nga bilang isa ka public servant ang imo katuyoan paghatag sang bulig sa tawo,” said Alayon in an interview over Bombo Radyo Roxas.

“Sa akon ya pag intindi wala ko ya sang may ginhimo nga sala diri sa aton banwa, ilabi na gid sa aton pumoluyo,” he added.

Andaya claimed in his complaint affidavit that from January 2020 to September 2020, municipal funds totaling P265,800 were disbursed to various recipients.

The di s bursements , according to Andaya, could constitute violations of the Anti- Graft and Corrupt Practice Act, Revised Penal Code or Local Government Code of the Philippines and other relevant l aws and regulations.

But according to Alayon, t h e r e l e a s e d f i n a n c i a l assistance went through a process and was based on the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that unused funds can be used for coronavirus pandemicrelated assistance.

Alayon stressed that it also passed the assessment of the town’s budget officer, accountant and treasurer.

“Dira pa lang sa budget officer kon indi insakto, kon indi legitimate nga paggamit sang pundo, i- disallow nila ina,” Alayon stressed.

The Ombudsman has yet to issue its resolution on the complaint./