Town worker suspended

A MUNICIPAL worker in southwest town, Cebu, was meted a one-month suspension without pay for the unauthorized use of a government-owned vehicle.

Ildefonso Gingoyon, the driver of Badian Vice Mayor Frustuoso Caballero, was found guilty of misconduct by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

In her decision, graft investigation and prosecution officer Portia Pacquiao-Suson found probable cause against Caballero whose defense was “unsubstantiated.”

The issue stemmed from a complaint filed by the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) of the anti-graft office, which is tasked to monitor government vehicles being used for nonofficial purposes.

On June 3, 2006 (a Saturday), a maroon Mazda pickup with a plate number SFR-301 was seen parked at the Ayala Center Cebu basement parking area at around 2 p.m.

Upon verification by the Land Transportation Office, the Ombudsman found out that the vehicle  was owned by Badian town.

The vehicle was assigned to the vice mayor.

Under the “Government Accounting and Auditing Manual,” all government agencies “are prohibited from using government vehicles for the purpose other than official businesses.”

Trip tickets, which prove the authorized use of the vehicle, “shall also be displayed on the windshield and/or in another conspicuous place on the vehicle.”

The anti-graft office investigated  Gingoyon and Caballero.

In their joint counter-affidavit, the driver said he was ordered by the municipal treasurer of Badian to drive the vehicle to Cebu City to buy assorted materials needed for the Municipal Treasurer’s Office.

The complaint against the vice mayor was dismissed for lack of substantial evidence./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL