Members of a barangay council in Iloilo City are now in hot water after they were accused of selling over 15 lots in a relocation site in Barangay San Isidro, District of Jaro.

The sale of the lots was consummated allegedly in 2019, according to Barangay Chairwoman Ronela Juaneza.

The four "kagawads" accused are Ruby Gallano, Rosalinda Camarista, Eugenio Bolivar, and Bernard Gemulgada.

Juaneza said she learned of the alleged involvement of the four when an awardee of the lot sought her assistance to recover a piece of land that is already claimed by another person.

A staff member of the barangay attested to the sale when another lot buyer in the relocation site asked for help.

Juaneza said she is in the process of collating pieces of evidence for the filing of formal complaints at the Office of the Ombudsman and at the Iloilo City Local Housing Office.

GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas sought Camarista’s statement, but she refused an interview. Gallano was not in her house when the news team went to her residence.

As of posting time, the news team tried to reach out to Bolivar and Gemulgada but is yet to receive their reply.

However, while Juaneza accused the four of questionable transactions, she is herself to face a 60-day preventive suspension recommended by the Iloilo City Council to Mayor Jerry Treñas on the alleged anomalous release of over P800,000 barangay funds from December 2023 to January 2024.

The accusations against Juaneza involved alleged violation of Republic Act 9184 or the Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and for Other Purposes; misconduct in office, and abuse of authority. But Juaneza said that the procurement went through bidding process.

The initial hearing on the said accusations against Juaneza is set on August 28, 2024.