Trinidad village chief faces oppression charges

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Barangay Balili Punong Barangay Paul Alveraz was charged for oppression, misconduct in office and abuse in authority by 65-year-old village councilor Saturnina Wanawan.

The village leaders went to Boracay on May 26 for a seminar. Wanawan allegedly felt oppressed because her village leader kept her inside her room.

In an affidavit complaint submitted to the La Trinidad Council for pleadings, Wanawan recounted her ordeal in Boracay, which forced her to file the administrative complaint against Alveraz, asking for the latter’s removal from office and suspension while the case is pending.

Wanawan went out from Velis Inn, where they stayed, with three companions to buy items they needed but he unfortunately got lost and separated from her group.

Wanawan tried to search for her companions. Wanawan also forgot the name of the inn, which made it more difficult for her to find her way back.

Wanawan tried to call and text her companions but could not reach any of them. In her desperation, Wanawan went to seek the aid of a police officer who tried to take her around the island hoping she would recognize her hotel.

The police officer then brought Wanawan to a radio station. She later received a text message from Alveraz stating the hotel name, prompting a radio personnel to call Veliz Inn to make arrangements to ferry Wanawan back.

Alveraz came to fetch Wanawan and took her back to the hotel, however, the village chief allegedly prohibited Wanawan to join the scheduled activities and directed her to stay in her room.

Alveraz also directed the hotel personnel not to allow Wanawan not to go out of the hotel.

The affidavit said the act of Alveraz towards Wanawan “is inexcusable and a total disrespect to a woman, a senior citizen and a duly elected village councilor, it is also highly oppressive, anti-social, inhuman, highly discriminatory and highly scandalous that must not be repeated in the future by even an ordinary individual.”

Councilors Delmas Allan and Ramon Tomin also executed an affidavit stating Wanawan did not join the day’s activities in Boracay as she was made to stay inside the hotel.