The Davao City Council’s Committee on Ethics is investigating five Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons following complaints of alleged misuse of funds.

Most of the five chairpersons are from the city’s Third District. One of them reportedly resigned because of the controversy.

Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, chairman of the Ethics Committee, said the legislative body has jurisdiction over SK officials and has already received multiple complaints, mostly involving financial matters.

“Murag naa nay lima, intially wala. Pero pagsulti namo nga we have actually juridstiction over SK officials nagsugod na. Naa nay lima and I think there will be more coming. And most of these cases involves money matters, misuse of funds,” Cabling said.

The Commission on Audit (COA) is expected to determine whether the use of SK funds was proper.

Cabling added that the committee may impose administrative sanctions, including disqualification from holding future public office, if violations are proven.

“But with respect to administrative aspect, behavior of the Sanggunian chairman, we can actually impose disqualification from holding any other public office in the future,” Cabling added.

Under the law, 10 percent of a barangay’s annual general fund is allocated to the SK, but spending must be guided by an annual Barangay Youth Investment Plan.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the Department of Interior and Local Government-Davao (DILG-11) and the SK Federation in Davao City for a statement, as of this writing.