Ombudsman suspends QC village chief, treasurer over ‘ghost’ projects

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed two local officials from Barangay Quirino 3B (Claro) in Quezon City under preventive suspension for up to six months over alleged ghost projects and unsettled audit disallowances totaling P22.28 million.

In a decision disclosed Friday, the anti-graft body ordered the temporary suspension of barangay captain Ronald Noga Tagle and barangay treasurer Richelle Ann Formanes Santillan pending the administrative resolution of charges for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty.

The suspension stems from a series of annual reports conducted by the Commission on Audit spanning 2017 to 2023.

Field investigators noted severe financial irregularities, concluding that Tagle, acting in conspiracy with Santillan, withdrew village savings over a five-year period for non-existent projects.

Audit findings revealed that the local officials repeatedly failed to submit required supporting documents for various procurement transactions and fund disbursements.

CoA’s Quezon City Field Office previously issued multiple Audit Observation Memoranda and Notices of Disallowance regarding the missing records.

According to the Ombudsman’s order, the village leadership released P22.71 million without the mandatory disbursement vouchers required by state auditing rules.

Although a subsequent appeal reduced the final disallowance to P22.28 million, the amount remained unsettled despite repeated enforcement directives from state auditors.

“Respondents’ administrative violation appears to be supported by evidence. The evidence on record that the guilt of respondents is strong,” the Ombudsman stated in its ruling.

The Ombudsman furnished a copy of the preventive suspension order to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, directing municipal authorities to implement the administrative directive immediately upon receipt.