- Ombudsman suspends Davao barangay captain over alleged TUPAD fund anomaly
THE CHIEF of Barangay Baliok has been slapped with a one-year suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, which found him guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.
In a memorandum dated Sept. 15, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte ordered the Barangay Baliok chief to immediately cease and desist from performing all official functions, duties, and responsibilities.
The disciplinary action stems from an administrative case (OMB-MA-JUL-25-0295) filed by four barangay kagawads led by Antonio Avanzado Tinasas.
According to the official statement released by Kagawad Tinasas, the charges involved alleged falsification of public documents, dishonesty, and misconduct concerning the implementation of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.
The complaint alleged irregularities tied to P7 million in TUPAD funds allocated in 2020 and another P5 million in 2021, which reportedly lacked actual payouts for intended beneficiaries.
Aside from the one-year suspension, the Ombudsman’s decision also addressed a count under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code for falsification by public documents.
Mayor Duterte’s directive mandatedbthat the suspension be fully enforced within 10 days of receiving the anti-graft office’s ruling.
The first-ranking barangay kagawad is expected to step up to assume the duties of the Punong Barangay to ensure the continuous delivery of services to constituents in Barangay Baliok.
In his Facebook post, Kagawad Antonio “Tonying” Tinasas’s official statement:
“For the information of our beloved residents of Baliok,
I am issuing this official statement to shed light on the questions currently surrounding the state of our barangay. We, four Barangay Kagawads, personally filed a case with the Ombudsman against our Captain for Falsification of Public Documents, Dishonesty, and Misconduct involving the funds and beneficiary lists of the TUPAD program (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) amounting to 7 million [pesos] in the year 2020 and 5 million [pesos] in the year 2021, with no actual payout happening for the beneficiaries. After a thorough investigation and legal process, the official decision has come out: a 1-year suspension for Grave Misconduct and Serious Dishonesty, and 1 count under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (Falsification by Public Documents).
Taking this step was not easy, but as your elected lawmakers and servants, it is our obligation to protect the funds that were meant for the poor and our needy workers. TUPAD is a government program designed to help those who have lost their livelihoods, and it should not be abused or favored for personal interest. Let us remain united, vigilant, and enthusiastic for the betterment of our community. Thank you very much for your great understanding and continued trust.
Always faithfully serving,
ANTONIO “TONYING” TINASAS
TIMES has reached out to the suspended official to secure a statement regarding the suspension order and is waiting for a response.
