The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo City has recommended the filing of a complaint against a Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman in Jaro for dereliction of duty and for possible graft.
The SK chairman spent allegedly over P400,000 in SK funds.
According to DILG Iloilo City’s initial investigation, the SK chairman has withdrawn SK funds worth P430,000 within a day.
“Gusto namin kumpleto ang papel dahil mahirap sa ngayon na may kinuha siyang pera at wala tayong patunay, walang papel to support. Ang perang naiwan sa bangko, parang isang libo na lang. Siya ang may hawak nito? Supposed to be the treasurer,” said Oscar Lim, head of DILG-Iloilo City.
The investigation was pursued as the SK chairman did not show up at the barangay anymore.
According to Barangay M.V. Hechanova Chairman Nestor Ledesma, the SK chairman last reported at the barangay hall for duty on July 4, 2025. It was only in August 2025 when he read his letter left in the office.
In the letter, the SK chairman informed the barangay captain that he is going on a trip but did not cite the exact place and the expected date of his return.
“Wala sa letter niya kung saan and kanyang destinasyon. Hindi naman masabing nag-resign siya dahil walang resignation. Ang absent, without pay yan,” Ledesma emphasized.
Ledesma added that he received complaints from residents on a basketball tournament that was stalled as the SK chairman is nowhere to be found.
The DILG has directed the barangay to file a complaint against the SK chairman for dereliction of duty at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and a complaint for possible graft at the Ombudsman should it be established that the SK chairman pocketed government funds.
'“Based sa Section 18 ng Republic Act 10742 ng law ng SK, four consecutive absences sa barangay sessions, basis na ‘yan na masampahan siya ng kaso na pwede siyang ma-dismiss. And sa SK mismo, two consecutive meetings na hindi niya ma-convene, basis na yan para sampahan siya ng kaso for dereliction,” Lim said further.
Ledesma said he tried contacting the SK chairman, but he is always out of reach.
The SK chairman’s parents were not around when GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas went to his house. But according to a family driver, who refused an on-camera interview, he learned that the SK chairman had his own parents blocked in his social media accounts.
Further, he said that the SK chairman did not inform his parents when he left in July 2025.
The SK chairman took with him reportedly most of his belongings.
The DILG, the barangay, and SK are set to meet the SK chairman’s parents.
