Mt. Province village chairman ousted for cheating on SALN

July 13, 2018 Latest News

BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE – A re-elected punong barangay cannot anymore serve another term after the interior department served his dismissal from government service for not filing his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN) from 2010-2016.
The Mt. Province DILG implemented the dismissal order on Napua Punong Barangay Willie B. Bacoong on Tuesday after the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal from the service for gross neglect of duty.
In the 5-page decision of the Office of the Ombudsman penned by Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Joyrich M. Golangco,
Bacoong will also be meted the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirements benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and will be barred from taking civil service examinations.
On August 3, 2017, Richard Budod and Juniper Dominguez complained at the Ombudsman  that Bacoong did not file his SALN and declare his mini-dump truck.
Baccong earlier denied the charges against him and explained that he filed his SALNs for the questioned years before the Secretary of the Liga ng mga Barangay, Sabangan chapter.  The anti-graft body however rejected the official’s reasons and reminded him that the Liga ng mga Barangay is not the proper office to submit SALNs.
Apart from the dismissal of Bacoong from government service, the Ombudsman also recommended that the ousted barangay official be charged for 7 counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act (RA) No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public officials and Employees in the local courts.
The Ombudsman also noted that Bacoong’s SALNs for 2011 to 2014 which were also submitted to the Ligang mga Barangay office were all undated and unsigned while his SALNs for 2015 to 2016 were likewise undated.  Also,  all of the documents did not show that they were likewise received by the Liga.  “His repeated failure to comply with law manifestly shows his palpable breach of duty making him administratively liable for gross neglect of duty,” the Ombudsman ruled. ACE ALEGRE / ABN