Monday, July 21, 2008 Tudela VM to cite malice in reply to admin rap filed by Baquerfo
IN THE rivalry between Tudela mayoralty claimants Rogelio Baquerfo and Demetrio Granada, a judicial tangle has ensued, and this time, the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) has become involved.
Tudela Vice Mayor Clint Maratas, the municipal council’s presiding officer, revealed in a press conference last Friday that he will file a reply today to yet another administrative accusation that Baquerfo has raised.
Baquerfo filed a complaint before the anti-graft court last June 6 for refusal of assistance. The complaint was against Maratas and the Tudela SB members, including the 15-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson, Arriane Capao.
Spared
However, Maratas said last Friday that the complaint could only be “tainted with malice,” because one municipal councilor had been spared the accusation.
Tudela Councilor Amphil Belacho, Maratas said, was Baquerfo’s ally in the 2007 elections, while nearly all the rest of the SB members are supporters of Granada.
Baquerfo’s complaint anchored on Section 233 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which penalizes public officials for refusing to give assistance.
It imposes arrest and special disqualification upon “a public officer who, upon demand from competent authority, shall fail to lend his cooperation towards the administration of justice or other public service, if such failure shall result in serious damage to the public interest, or to a third party.”
The complaint reportedly stemmed from the failure to pay the municipality’s job-order workers, such as carpenters.
Maratas added that the effects of the Baquerfo-Granada rivalry have seeped into Tudela society, beyond political clashes within the council.
When Granada assumed office as mayor last June 23, 40 to 60 job-order workers contracted for the municipality’s projects lost their jobs.
Some department heads also ceased to be recognized by the office of the mayor, Maratas added.
He added that one department head, though she was still recognized by Granada, has stopped showing up at her office, in support of Baquerfo.
However, Maratas claimed that Granada was “fully functioning” as a mayor because “basic services are still being delivered to the people.”
He said that despite arguments among supporters, nothing has blown up to add tension to the local scene.
“We are performing our functions,” Maratas, a supporter of Granada, said.
Apart from his lawsuit against the Tudela SB for refusal of assistance, Baquerfo has also filed separate administrative complaints against Granada and Maratas for usurpation of authority.
The fight between Granada and Baquerfo dates back to 1994, when Granada leveled a criminal charge against Baquerfo for allegedly giving undue benefits to Barangay Puertobello in Tudela.
The accusation stemmed from Baquerfo’s transfer of a waterworks system’s management from the municipality to that barangay. (KAB)
