Former councilor uses govt vehicle, escapes sanction

A FORMER councilor of Toledo City was found guilty for using a government-issued vehicle for personal purpose by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas.

But Teresito Largo can no longer be suspended on charges of simple misconduct because he is no longer in office.

The issue stemmed from an operation conducted by the Oplan Red Plate Task Force last Feb. 21, 2009.

The task force chanced upon a government vehicle in front of Tita Gwapa Store in Minglanilla.

The anti-graft office found out that the vehicle was driven by a private citizen and boarded by three passengers.

The Ombudsman found out that the vehicle was issued to Largo.

When sought for comment by the anti-graft office, Largo said he used the vehicle to pick up additional stocks of medicine in Cebu City for his medical missions.

Largo denied using the vehicle for personal purposes, saying he even used his personal money for fuel.

Last Feb. 21, 2009, Largo said they stopped at the Tita Gwapa Store to use its rest rooms and buy some refreshments on their way back to Toledo City.

He said he was with his staff during that time. Graft investigation and prosecution officer Maria Regina Hagad-Fernandez, however, found out the trip ticket was intended for “barangay visitation.”

Fernandez said the trip ticket issued for the use of the vehicle was only limited to the barangays of Toledo City.

The Ombudsman has been reminding public employees and officials not to use government-owned vehicles for personal use.

The public employee or official might be reprimanded or suspended if found guilty of using government vehicles for personal use. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol