The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday ordered the preventive suspension of Quezon City Barangay Captain Ronald Noga Tagle and Barangay Treasurer Richelle Ann Formanes Santillan for up to six months due to unsettled audit disallowances and fabricated projects.
In its five-page order, the Ombudsman established that the evidence of guilt against the two was strong. The suspension was ordered on the grounds of potential prejudice in administrative proceedings while remaining in service.
Both face the possibility of permanent removal from office.
“Tagle, in conspiracy with Santillan, withdrew the savings of Barangay Quirino 3B (Claro) from 2018 to 2023 for non-existent or ghost projects,” the Ombudsman wrote.
The order cited procurement transactions amounting to ₱1,412,714.10 in 2017 and 2018, all unsupported by complete documentation.
The order also pointed to undocumented disbursements worth ₱15,938,064.37 in 2020, ₱23,999,924.57 in 2021, ₱17,640,624.39 in 2022, and ₱17,881,634.43 in 2023—all of which purportedly lack the mandatory supporting documents.
Tagle and Santillan authorized the release of ₱22,713,363.12 in public funds without disbursement vouchers, leading to notices of disallowance.
After an appeal, ₱431,813.14 in disallowances was lifted, which left ₱22,281,549.98 unsettled.
The Ombudsman emphasized that the respondents allegedly failed to submit accounting records in spite of multiple directives issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) and adverse audit findings.
“Respondents’ administrative violation appears to be supported by evidence. The evidence on record shows that the guilt of respondents is strong, the charges against them involve Grave Misconduct, and Gross Neglect of Duty,” the Ombudsman stated.
The decision was made in response to a complaint by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office, which had conducted a probe into the financial irregularities and unsupported disbursements of barangay funds that were flagged by COA.
“The Commission on Audit Quezon City Field Office audited Barangay Quirino 3B (Claro) covering the calendar years 2017 to 2023 and came up with numerous Audit Observation Memoranda (AOMs) and Notices of Disallowance (NDs) from 2017 to 2020, wherein various deficiencies, including the non-submission of required supporting documents, as well as irregularities in the utilization, documentation, and processing of barangay funds were cited. Likewise, it noted various deficiencies, including non-submission of supporting documents for such fund utilization,” the order wrote.
The Quezon City mayor was subsequently directed to immediately enforce the preventive suspension and notify the Ombudsman once it has, within three days of receipt of the order.
