Barangay Captain Brigid Tan of Barangay 3, Bacolod City yesterday said she is confident that the criminal and administrative charges filed against her by four barangay kagawads, for alleged non-payment of their honoraria for Nov. 2004, will be dismissed.

The complaints for Malversation of Funds, Dishonesty and Violation of Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were filed Tuesday against Tan and barangay treasurer Corazon Berbadas before the Bacolod City Prosecutors Office the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas by Rogelio Noble, Ricky Filoteo, William Gicole and Danilo Subiate

Tan said she was only a signatory and had nothing to do with the money, adding that she herself has not received her honoraria for November 2004. She said Bernadas already admitted having used the money, and has promised to pay them. She added that they have already discussed the matter in the barangay council and Bernadas appealed to them to give her time to settle her obligation.

Tan said the case is a form of retaliation against Bernadas because of an incident involving the wife of former Brgy. 3 kagawad Mario Franco, who was the last person seen inside the barangay hall when the collection for the "cedula" was lost sometime in 2003. She said Franco resigned in December 2004 and is now working in Dubai. Bernadas said she was at City Hall when the incident happened and the matter was reported to the police by one of the barangay kagawads. She said the Franco family perhaps felt that they were being held responsible for the missing collection of P5,000.

The complainants claimed that they have not received their honoraria as barangay kagawads of Brgy. 3 for Nov. 2004 although their honoraria for Dec. 2004 and the following months have been released.

They also said that until now Tan and Bernadas can not account for the P55,652.54, representing the November 2004 honoraria.*CGS

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