Ombud confirms receipt of Alejandrino widow's rap

DEPUTY Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol recently informed Melba Alejandrino, wife of the late council secretary Nilo Alejandrino, that the graft investigating body received last May 3 her complaints against concerned city officials.

The communication also informed her that the Ombudsman has assigned the cases to an investigating officer who will conduct the probe.

Further, the Ombudsman required Mrs. Alejandrino to submit the needed documents in order to prevent delays in the proceeding and also to facilitate the evaluation/appreciation of the facts in the case within 10 days.

Mrs. Alejandrino filed criminal complaints for Gross Violation of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Sec. 3 (a) of R.A. 3019, against Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and a criminal complaint for Usurpation of Authority against Sayson and violation of Sec. 3 (a) of R.A. 3019 against Councilor Caesar Distrito.

These cases stemmed from the verbal exchanges that transpired between Alejandrino and Distrito relative to the invitation sent by Alejandrino to City Legal Officer Joseliton Bayatan where Alejandrino wrote the word "casual" under the name of Bayatan who, at that time, was frequently sending casual employees in his office to represent him during public hearings.

Distrito came to Alejandrino's office and asked him to change it to the proper title of “Atty. Bayatan” but the encounter ended in verbal exchanges between the two.

Distrito claimed Alejandrino insulted his disability and even allegedly threw a chair at him that showed disrespect to his person and his position as member of the City Council.

Alejandrino was eventually dismissed from service with the forfeiture of all his benefits. This setback, according to his family, was the cause of the deterioration of Alejandrino’s health that led to his untimely death last April 14. (Carla N. Canet)