STA ANA -- Residents and other officials of San Pablo village here are contemplating to file graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against their village chief for failure to account more than P249K public funds.

Village Chief Arnel Guzman was questioned by his constituents during the first General Assembly, held the other day, for his unliquidated expenses since last year involving calamity
funds amounting to P84, 000 and P155, 000 supplemental budget which was released during
the second quarter of this year.

“Nauubos ang pondo ng barangay pero hindi naman malinaw kung saan ito ginagamit, wala naman kasing proyektong lumilitaw,” residents here said.

With this, Rodolfo Pecson and Magsaysay Dela Cruz, village councilmen, went to the Commission on Audit to seek advice the regarding the issue.

Pecson said, it is his obligation as public servant to make sure that public funds are being used properly. “Humihingi kami ng monthly report kay Kapitan para mabantayan ang paggamit ng pondo, nagbigay siya minsan pero hindi suportado ng dokumento at resibo ang pinagkagastusan,” Pecson added.

On the other hand, De Guzman defended himself during the assembly. He pointed out that the issue being raised against him is purely politically motivated. (Herbert P. Mapiles)