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Friday, April 29, 2005
Barangay chairmen deny ouster plea vs mayor for P6.4M
By Rimaliza Opiña
THE Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) of Baguio denied rumors they signed a petition asking for the recall of Mayor Braulio Yaranon in exchange for P6.4 million.
The allegation, which spread through text messages, said the City's 128 barangay chiefs and 768 councilmen were offered P20,000 and P5,000 each, respectively, by former Mayor Bernardo Vergara and Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan to petition for Yaranon's recall.
But Councilor and ABC president Rufino Panagan said the rumors are baseless and malicious, adding that because of the "unfounded rumors," the reputation of the city's barangay officials have been put to test.
Panagan, in a press statement, said the implication of the text messages is "detestable as it imputes that barangay officials of Baguio are into accepting monies for favor or consideration."
He also challenged those spreading the gossip to substantiate their allegations, saying the ABC could not take the rumors lightly.
"I am saddened to learn that certain quarters have stooped so low a level as to manipulate technological advances to propagate their insidious and sinister designs. Character assassination and other devious machinations have reached an all-time high in Baguio, and the barangay officials are unwittingly being used as victims in this charade," said Panagan, who is also the barangay chairman of South Sanitary Camp.
He said those spreading the rumors should be more circumspect in their action "so as not to erode the remaining trust of the citizenry to the local government," even as he said that as a consequence, the rumors have affected the dispensation of public service at the barangay level.
"Those who are texting these messages are not only fomenting suspicion but also seek to destroy the credibility and reputation of our barangay officials because of their self-serving interests."
Panagan added "these spiteful rumors only fan the flames of discontent already pervasive in our city and will in no way advance the efforts for a better and more progressive society."
Meanwhile, Guisad Barangay Chairman Ferdy Bayasen, a member of the ABC Board of Directors, said before they sign a petition for any recall, there has to be sufficient grounds as he stressed that a recall should benefit the majority and not just a few people.
"Those who want a recall should lay out the basis. If there is basis, is it enough, will it make things better? We bow to whoever is in authority, let's just support them," Bayasen said.
(April 29, 2005 issue)
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