DAVAO CITY — A Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson in Barangay Talomo Proper is under intense public scrutiny following allegations that her office used photos and claimed accomplishments from another barangay in its official report.
Johanna Katrina Bariñan, the SK chairperson of Talomo Proper, drew criticism online after netizens noticed that images included in their March 15, 2026 accomplishment report appeared identical to those previously posted by SK officials of Barangay Catalunan Grande.
The controversy centered on the “TrabaHUNT” project, which was listed as one of the initiatives conducted in Talomo Proper. However, residents from the barangay quickly disputed the claim, asserting that no such project had taken place in their community.
Social media users from both barangays engaged in heated discussions, questioning the authenticity of the report and calling out what they described as a misrepresentation of accomplishments. The issue further escalated as side-by-side comparisons of the photos circulated online, showing striking similarities between the two sets of images.
In response to the growing backlash, Bariñan addressed the issue in a comment on a netizen’s post, stating that the inclusion of the TrabaHUNT project in their accomplishment report was due to an error by their editor.
“The inclusion of the said project was a mistake on the editor’s end,” she said, without providing further details on how the alleged error occurred.
Following the public outcry, the SK Talomo Proper office removed the TrabaHUNT project and its accompanying photos from their published accomplishment report.
Despite this, criticism has persisted, with many netizens demanding greater accountability and transparency from youth officials tasked with representing their communities. Some residents also called for a clearer explanation and verification process to ensure the accuracy of official reports.
The incident has reignited broader discussions about integrity and responsibility among public officials, particularly within youth leadership institutions like the Sangguniang Kabataan, which are expected to uphold transparency and genuine service.
As of writing, no formal administrative complaint has been announced, but the issue continues to gain traction online, with calls for further clarification from the Talomo Proper SK office.