TO err is human, but doing the same mistake over and over again requires a slap on the wrist — at the very least.
In the lakeshore municipality of Angono in the province of Rizal, a village chief didn’t seem to learn from the first fall. Hence, the local council made sure that she won’t be committing the same mistake for the third time.
In its decision, the Sangguniang Bayan ng Angono slapped Barangay Kalayaan chairperson Annaliza Intalan-Balagtas with a six-month suspension without pay for “neglect of duty, misconduct and abuse of authority.”
The case stemmed from Intalan-Balagtas’ defiance to present proof that public funds were spent in accordance with existing regulations governing public spending.
In its 12-page decision, the municipal council of Angono found Intalan-Balagtas administratively liable for fund misuse.
According to the complaint, Intalan-Balagtas repeatedly refused to release disbursement vouchers, financial statements and bank records covering 2023 until the time she was suspended.
During hearings conducted by the committee on ethics and good governance, barangay council members alleged that Intalan-Balagtas coerced them to sign a financial report without supporting documents showing how and where barangay funds had been spent.
When the councilors requested the supporting attachments, she allegedly refused, even as the barangay chairwoman claimed that the accusations against her were politically motivated.
Separate statements submitted by Councilors Roberto Vasquez, Josielyn Ebitner, Fernando Serrano, Edwin Eusebio and Erwin Ezer also alleged that Intalan released barangay funds without the required resolution from the Sangguniang Barangay.
The councilors likewise questioned the alleged absence of a competitive bidding process for several barangay programs and projects.
After reviewing the testimonial and documentary evidence, the committee found Intalan-Balagtas guilty of three administrative offenses.
“After a careful evaluation of the testimonial and documentary evidence on record and upon a majority vote of eight out of nine members, the committee finds substantial evidence to hold the respondent [Intalan] administratively liable,” the decision stated.
Previously, Intalan-Balagtas was slapped with a two-month suspension for similar allegations.
