DILG-10 warns ex-village chiefs to turn over properties properly

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

The Department of Interior and Local Government – Misamis Oriental Provincial Office here has issued a warning to former barangay chairpersons who failed to properly turn over funds and government property to newly-elected officials or face criminal charges in court.

Misamis Oriental DILG provincial director Edward Bagwani said they will not hesitate to file criminal charges against defeated and former-barangay officials who failed or refused to conduct proper turn-over of funds and properties to the newly-elected barangay officials.

He said under DILG memorandum, defeated local barangay officials must conduct proper turn over by noon of June 30 or not beyond the assumption of incoming new barangay officials.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 2013-115, Conduct of Inventory and Turnover of all Barangay Properties, Financial Records, Documents and Money Accountabilities by all Incumbent Barangay Officials.

Under the memo, all out-going barangay officials are enjoined to create a transition team with the task and responsibilities chaired by the out-going barangay chairman with members of one barangay kagawad, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer, and a bookkeeper represented by a local government unit.

The team shall see if the all the records are intact and all officials in actual possession of, or entrusted with the custody of supply and properties be held accountable.

The transition team is also ordered to assemble all records like legislative records, administrative records, and supplies, transcript of Lupon meetings and cases, the registry of barangay inhabitants and list of members during barangay assembly.

The transition team is also ordered to organize a turn-over ceremony to include briefing of the barangay governance, financial performance and key challenges to the incoming set of officials and to ensure that all outgoing barangay officials should secure barangay clearance from the treasurer.