Nova
FIVE Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons from Davao City are facing charges over the alleged misuse of public funds, Councilor Arnulfo Cabling revealed.
During the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyos on Tuesday, Cabling confirmed that one of them had already resigned, but that won’t get any of the suspects off the hook.
“We will continue to receive evidence because this is an administrative case. Ang evidence di man ingana ka taas, so we will impose sanctions,” Cabling said. “We drive our message clear—you are not playing, you are supposed to do projects for the kabataan.”
The councilor said most SK officials in question come from the third district, and investigation and evidence collection are ongoing.
As a quasi-judicial body, the committee on ethics and governance is currently working on 35 cases, and 10 of these are nearing dismissal and termination due to lack of interest from the complainant to pursue the case, while some have reached reconciliation.
However, there are more endorsements to the committee where SK-related concerns top the list, most of which involve money concerns and misuse of funds.
Cabling said the cases have been increasing as complainants lodge their complaints to the city council committee.
The committee is crafting comprehensive rules and mechanisms to provide checks and balances for the next budget hearing. He said the City Council has no power to monitor the SK budget as this is a sole function of the barangay.
The city council is only authorized to confirm, and once approved by the barangay council, the SK can spend the money without passing through the city council.
“We are proposing na pag-approve sana ng barangay budget, isasabay ang approval ng SK budget, para ma-check ng mabuti,” he said. “That way, magkakaroon na ng check and balance, talagang makikialam na ang council. Kasi ngayon pinapabayaan, tinuturuan nga natin ng governance nag mga kabataan pero mukhang some of them are misguided,” he said.
