Mayor faces criminal, admin raps

STO. TOMAS – Criminal and administrative cases have been filed against Mayor Joselito Naguit before the offices of the Provincial Prosecutor and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Monday.

Zoilo T. Briones, 83, of Barangay Sto. Niño Sapa here filed the said cases against the mayor.

Briones claimed that Naguit lied when he denied his involvement in a mauling incident which left the former with contusions as evidenced by a medical certificate.

He said the medical certificate signed by Dr. Hena Aldaba, resident physician of the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital and the police blotter will attest to the fact that he was assaulted by the mayor and his group. 

Briones stated that he remains firm with his previous statement that he was hit by Naguit in different parts of his body while his two bodyguards held his arms.

In his complaint dated September 25, 2012 submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office, Briones stated: “Ang pagmamaltrato sa akin ni Mayor Joselito F. Naguit at dalawa niyang kasamahan ay nagdulot ng kahihiyan at takot dahil maraming tao ang nakakita sa insidente at hindi isinaalang alang ang aking edad.”

The mauling controversy stemmed from a confrontation between Briones and a member of the mayor’s staff, asking the latter to remove a pile of sand blocking the front of the former’s driveway.

“Nakita ko na naglalakad si Mang Zoilo sa daan pauwi galing sa barangay hall ng Sapa Sto. Niño ng biglang dumaan ang isang Toyota Fortuner na kulay asul at bumaba si Mayor Naguit at dalawang bodyguard, pagkatapos narinig ko na sinabi ni mayor na bakit daw siya minumura at pagkatapos ay bigla na lamang pinagsusuntok sa iba’t ibang parte ng katawan at itinulak sa may balikat at sabay hamon sa kanya habang ang dalawang bodyguard ay hinahawakan ang dalawang kamay,” Ana Mervy Jawili, a resident here and an eyewitness, said in her sworn statement.

In the administrative case, Naguit was charged with grave abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a public official.

Briones prays that after observance of due process, respondent mayor be dismissed from service and be disqualified from holding public office in the future.

However, it was learned that DILG regional office will only endorse the said complaint to the Provincial Board who apparently has jurisdiction over the matter.

Earlier, Naguit also filed a case of direct assault against his accuser Briones.