A Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) official from Cebu City has found himself at the center of an online controversy after his holiday trip to Thailand was questioned by a public figure, leading to a heated discussion about the use of public funds and official conduct.
Social Media Post Sparks Public Scrutiny
The issue began when former Pinoy Big Brother housemate and social media personality Rian Bacalla took to Facebook to question the Thailand vacation of Barangay Labangon SK Chairman Kim Kyle Buendia. In her post, Bacalla also criticized what she perceived as a lack of visible youth programs and year-end activities in the barangay.
The post quickly went viral, amassing significant online engagement. As of press time, it had garnered over 20,000 reactions, 2,700 shares, and 865 comments, reflecting widespread public interest in the matter.
Buendia's Defense: A Private Family Affair
In a statement released on Friday, January 2, 2026, Chairman Buendia firmly dismissed the allegations, labeling the controversy as an attempt to mislead the public and damage his reputation. He asserted that his travel was undertaken in a purely "private capacity" and was personally financed.
To support his claim, Buendia presented several documents. These included a request for travel authority addressed to the mayor's office dated November 14, 2025, a corresponding travel authority from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed by Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla. The DILG document authorized travel to Thailand from December 26, 2025, to January 6, 2026, for personal reasons. He also shared a wedding invitation for a ceremony at Christ Church Bangkok, indicating the trip's purpose was to attend a family-sponsored wedding.
"The allegations are not true," Buendia stated emphatically.
Mayor's Response and Budget Constraints
When asked for comment, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival provided clarification in a phone interview. Mayor Archival stated he did not recall signing or approving any official travel authority for the trip, noting that official travels require clear documentation.
However, he clarified a crucial point: "If it was a private trip, I don't understand why it was done in that manner, but it was not government money. It was his own money." The Mayor added that public officials are not prohibited from using personal funds for travel, and such trips do not automatically imply wrongdoing in the absence of public expenditure.
Addressing the secondary criticism about a lack of barangay activities, Buendia cited significant financial constraints facing SK Labangon. He explained that his office dealt with budget delays and even temporary disconnections of electricity and water services at the SK office.
"The situation was very difficult, especially since we were neophytes in politics, but we made an effort to ensure that our character would not be tainted by the bad habits of some politicians and their people around us," Buendia said.
In concluding his statement, the SK chairman urged the public not to be swayed by what he called propaganda and expressed hope that the truth would prevail over any hidden political motives.
