Village chief suspended for ‘illegal use’ of gov’t vehicle

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has suspended for one month and a day without pay Paril, Cebu City Barangay Captain Casimiro Pilones over unauthorized use of government vehicle in 2016.

Carla Juris-Tanco, assistant Ombudsman-Visayas, recommended the suspension of Pilones after he was found administratively liable for simple misconduct.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by former barangay councilor Mario Cerojano, who accused Pilones of misconduct before the anti-graft office.

Since Pilones assumed office as village chief in 2013, Cerojano said that several residents complained to him and to other barangay officials about the unauthorized use of their garbage truck for Pilones’ personal business, particularly to haul products from his farm in Toledo City, Tuburan, and Sogod going to Cebu City.

Cerojano said he had seen several times that their barangay garbage truck was loaded with baskets and sacks of vegetables and other farm products, instead of being used to collect garbage.

In one instance, the village’s ambulance was not utilized to transport a sick resident since such was reportedly used to deliver mangoes from Pilones’ farm to an official at the Cebu City Hall.

Such act constitutes a violation of Section 5 of Commission on Audit Circular 75-6 and Section 1 of Administrative Order 239, which prescribe that government vehicles should be used strictly for official business with corresponding trip tickets.

Replying to the charges, Pilones denied using government vehicles for his personal business. He said he has several trucks to transport products from his farm.

He also said the mangoes from his farm were picked up by the trucks of the buyers due to sheer volume.

But Pilones admitted that he allowed a certain Lorena Soten to use the barangay truck in her and other farmer’s behalf to transport their products to the city. But he said the farmers paid for the fuel expenses.

The Ombudsman directed the Department of the Interior and Local Government to implement the suspension order and submit a compliance report. /

All government agencies and offices shall limit the use of government vehicles to minimize unnecessary trips. ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 239