Capiz SK chair in trouble for alleged fund misuse

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman of Barangay Pagbunitan Sigma, Capiz is in trouble after some concerned youth leaders discovered that their funds have been withdrawn without their knowledge.

A concerned youth who asked not to be named told Daily Guardian that Marwin Bonifacio encashed checks intended for their youth project without the knowledge of the group.

He said the basketball league they held recently was compromised after the trophies for the winners were not awarded.

They have learned that Bonifacio will tender his resignation as SK chair to escape trouble.

In a radio interview on Friday, Bonifacio admitted the allegation against him, the three checks in his possession. But one of the checks had no amount, the other one was for P49,000 while the one that he encashed was for P44,000.

He said that he had returned P20,000 from the P44,000 check and promised to return the full amount before the end of December 2022.

The SK chairman said that he had used the money due to financial problem.

He said that no one knew about the encashment, even his parent.

Bonifacio said the amount was allocated for the trophies intended for their basketball league.

But to cover up his “misdeed,” he borrowed the trophies of Barangay Amaga for picture taking but these were later taken away and he gave money to the winners, instead.

Bonifacio is calling for a meeting in their barangay on Dec 10, 2022 to apologize for his actions.

Meanwhile, Punong Barangay Rolando Bonifacio said that he had no idea or knowledge about the SK chair’s actions.

He said that he only knew when the SK chair was called by the Department of Interior and Local Government DILG regarding the alleged anomaly.

But the SK chair did not attend as he called for a barangay general assembly meeting last Nov 25, 2022.

His colleagues want to file technical malversation against their SK chairman.

Roberto ‘Bong’ Horneja, municipal local government operation officer, said the SK has separate funds.

He said that the SK chair should return the amount before he tender his resignation.

He said the No. 3 SK kagawad will assume Bonifacio’s position as SK chair the Nos. 1 and 2 kagawads are no longer in their barangay.

But Bonifacio should submit his resignation so that there will be a formal vacancy.