Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia: Her mother’s son

By Limuel S. Celebria

In a recent session, the Sangguniang Panglungsod imposed a six-month suspension on a Punong Barangay in Jaro after finding her guilty of three (3) counts of violation of Republic Act 9184 or Misconduct in Office and Dishonesty, which is also prohibited under Section 60 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code.

The City Council approved unanimously the recommendation of its Committee on Personnel, Good Government, Public Accountability, and Oversight, led by Committee Chair Rex Marcus Sarabia. The committee conducted an investigation against San Isidro, Jaro Punong Barangay Ronela D. Juaneza based on a complaint filed by her fellow barangay officials.

In brief, the Committee found the accused in violation of procurement procedures and documentary infirmities in relation to the bidding, award, and release of procurement items including well-milled rice, medicines, and office supplies. The committee found that the Punong Barangay issued Certificates for the Release of funds even if “the requisite formalities and procedures were not observed prior to the release of funds and the delivery of procured items.” Some of the evidence presented were a couple of documents signed solely by the Punong Barangay and the Barangay Secretary alone with no other officials affixing their signatures.

Pending the investigation of the case, the Punong Barangay was already handed down a two-month preventive suspension. Normally, in administrative cases, the preventive suspension could have served as punishment. The committee, however, imposed the additional six-month suspension, not just as a punitive action but as an exemplary measure, meaning it is intended to serve as a stern warning to other barangay officials to discontinue their tendency to resort to shortcuts in the conduct of barangay affairs.

The committee’s decision was persuaded by DILG City Director Oscar Lim who noted that: “Most barangays do not observe the procurement process. Many assigned contractors are the ones that prepare the procurement documents instead of barangay officials themselves.”

Of special mention were Sangguniang Kabataan councilors who were known to be “bolder in their negligence of proper procedures.”

Further, it was observed that “though the failure of the barangays in observing proper procedures is rampant, such matters have not surfaced to the scrutiny of the public eye as rarely does it happen that administrative cases such as this were ever filed… It takes great division, irreconcilable differences, and errors of unignorable gravity for such administrative action to materialize. As such, grave wrong must be sternly and rightfully corrected.”

The instant case must be made as an exemplary lesson to all Barangay in Iloilo City to compel the proper observance of the Government Procurement Reform Act, which should not be viewed as mere compliance but as an essential and indispensable safeguard to ensure the protection and proper utilization of public funds, which is, after all, the lifeblood of government.”

Penned by young lawyer and neophyte councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia, the 15-page decision, citing established jurisprudence, including Supreme Court decisions, is a beautiful dissertation into the failures and pitfalls of local governance. Public reaction to the decision is split mostly along political lines.

There is potential backlash here for the young politician seeking a second term in office. Already, allies of the suspended Punong Barangay are assailing the decision on social media as politically tainted, threatening to retaliate via the ballot when the time comes. But none have challenged its legal validity.

I don’t think Sarabia will feel threatened nor intimidated by those who dare put any political spin on this decision. The young Sarabia is made of sterner stuff and much too intelligent to mind what is essentially nonsense.

By his own admission, Rex grew up learning the ABCs of politics from the lap of his mother. Though both his parents are lawyers, his mother — former City Councilor and Regional Trial Court Judge Rita Bascos Sarabia, was a greater influence in shaping his passion to love and serve Iloilo and its people. During her days in the city council, the late Rita Sarabia was known for her passion and zeal, her ardor and feistiness when it came to espousing her advocacies. Sarabia was city councilor from 1998 to 2004 (two terms) before joining the judiciary. She passed away in 2018 following injuries sustained in a gas leak explosion.

In his student days, Rex was elected President of the Central Philippine University Republic. But such leadership qualities only serve to highlight qualities engendered in his childhood. “Growing up, I saw my mom leave home early and go home late as a city councilor. I saw in her eyes a life full of purpose and I saw that she loved serving Iloilo City, and I have learned to do that as well.”