Barangay in Makati reportedly missing P378 million in funds

MAKATI, Philippines РBarangay San Lorenzo, one of the richest villages in this city, is reportedly missing P378 million of its funds, and some residents suspect that the barangay chairman may have had something to do about it. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay has heard of the controversy but can't do anything about it yet. "Much as we would like to get to the bottom of this issue, we need affidavits from complainants before I could order an investigation," Binay said on Wednesday. In reply, the barangay chairman, Joshua John Santiago, challenged his accusers, who refused to give their names, to prove what they had been saying. He added that the Commission on Audit (COA) had already cleared him of any liability in the issue. In fact, the audited financial report had been posted in the barangay hall for everyone to check. "I don't understand why they are saying that against me," Santiago said. "If they have basis for their accusations, then they should file the necessary charges." The question of the "missing money" surfaced during a village assembly last Saturday, when San Lorenzo residents complained that only P215 million of the barangay's P615 million budget for the past three years had been spent on community projects. They also said that the barangay council bought 1,200 lampposts when the community needed only 530. The lampposts reportedly cost P36,000 each. The residents said they were just awaiting the financial documents to detail their case before filing the necessary complaints. But Santiago found the accusation puzzling since, considering that the budget for 2005 up to 2007 had gone through the Makati City Council for approval. "The City Council approved our budget from 2005 up to 2007 and they didn't find any wrongdoing," Santiago said. "All the funds were spent wisely and properly audited. That's why they approved our request." According to him, it's only this year that the barangay budget did not go through the City Council. Santiago called the accusations against him as "black propaganda" initiated by his political detractors, especially those opposed to his plan to run as vice mayor. "This only started when several people talked to me about running as city vice mayor in the 2010 election," Santiago said. "I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. This has something to do with the coming election." As to the lampposts, he said that that they decided not to install the remaining 670 units for lack of space on the village sidewalks. San Lorenzo is among the affluent neighborhood in Makati, a city that has 33 barangays including such posh villages as Forbes Park, Dasmari̱as, and Bel-Air. San Lorenzo has a P118 million budget this year. Last year it got P126 million. The barangay has a land area of 269.35 hectares and a population of 6,487. Among the business establishments within the barangay are Glorietta and Greenbelt Malls, New World Hotel, Ascott Hotel (formerly Oakwood), Inter-Continental Hotel, Shangri-la Hotel, Makati Medical Center, Landmark, PLDT, BPI, Allied Bank, and 6750. - GMANews.TV