By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
Barangay Banago Captain Ricky Mijares; Kagawads Tessie Proceso, Eduardo Sumpay, and
Eduardo Torrecampo; and Barangay Treasurer Ruel Indico were recently brought up on
malversation of public funds charges, along with alleged violations to RA 3019, or the Anti-
Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the Office of the Ombudsman for the Visayas.
In a radio interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod, Barangay Kagawad Jose Jessie Bantigue, one
of three complainants in the case, claimed the accused failed to submit a report for the
liquidation of the barangay’s final transaction, in particular, P180,000 funds for the Barangay
Leadership Summit last September.
Other transactions called into question include P300,000 for a barangay fiesta in 2018 and an
P800,000 budget for the Sambod Festival last December.
Mijares, meanwhile, denied the allegations and affirmed the liquidation report is available before
the finance committee and transactions were approved by the barangay’s local council. The
barangay official added, he is ready to answer to the allegations once he receives an order from
the Ombudsman to file a counter-affidavit.
He also called Bantigue’s complaint “politically motivated” and claimed he is seeking to take
over as barangay captain./DGB, WDJ