Sunday, March 09, 2008 Village head dares councilor to prove claim
MALCOLM Square barangay leader William Domogen "respectfully" dared Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez to "put up or shut up."
This challenge was issued when Domogen told Rondez to prove her allegation that he (Domogen) collected P10,000 from each of those who set up stalls in his barangay during the recent Panagbenga Baguio Flower Festival (PBFF), or else issue a formal public apology to clear his name.
"I am deeply distraught and alarmed by your claims, which you stated during the citizens' forum of the (latest) regular session of the City Council last March 3. Your allegation that I collected P10,000 from some members of the Baguio Boys Club is a very serious matter which I cannot simply dismiss," Domogen said.
He said when Rondez made such an accusation in public, which she claimed was obtained from Panagbenga executive chairman Anthony de Leon, she had, "at the very least, degraded (his) reputation and put into bad light" his being a barangay leader of the city and a board director and treasurer of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).
"For the record, allow me to enlighten you that I have no relation or connection whatsoever with the Baguio Boys Club, with regards to their participation in the Panagbenga 2008. To buttress this point, I have hereto attached a certification from the aforementioned club certifying I have not, nor have I ever collected any amount from their group in exchange for any consideration," Domogen stated in his letter dated March 4, but which was only received at the office of Rondez Saturday.
"You also stated in the forum your allegations are based on affidavits which you will secure and present at a later date. I stand ready to face and be subjected to an investigation by any office or agency concerning this matter. Relative to this, I therefore request your office to furnish me at the soonest possible opportunity those aforementioned documents in order for me to rebut and disprove them at the appropriate time and forum," he said.
"Finally, I am compelled to issue a challenge to your office to make good your allegations with clear, hard and convincing evidence I am indeed the author of these irregularities and failing that, no less than a formal and public apology from you is needed to clear my name to the public and to the people which we both serve," Domogen added.
In a duly subscribed certification issued by Baguio Boys Club secretary Danny Lee, which was attached to Domogen's letter, the former stated the barangay leader "did not receive any amount in consideration and in regards to any rental from stall tenants."
However, in a texted message last night, Rondez said: "Future Panagbenga (celebrations) should not have any breakaway or guerilla type trade fairs. Not only (are they) illegal, but (they) spoil the gains of a successful and well-organized Session Road in Bloom, which (the) Hotels and Restaurants Association of Baguio (HRAB) painstakingly managed, but is now ruined by the howl of protest by those who were demolished by (the) Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) due to the absence of the necessary permits."
"The City Government did not receive any income from illegal stalls. (The) POSD, through Engineer Greg Deligero, will also give its terminal report regarding the Session Road in Bloom and state (the result of) its investigation and grounds for (the) demolition of stalls around Malcolm Square," she added.
Earlier, the ABC officers of Baguio, during the City Council session's citizen's forum last Monday, lamented their being sidelined from this year's Panagbenga celebration.
During this discussion, Lourdes Extension barangay leader and ABC public relations officer Benjamin Macadangdang said they asked permission from Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. to allow them to hold a fund-raising activity at the Malcolm Square, but were disallowed on the basis no trade fair is allowed there.
However, a few days after, Globe Telecom and the Baguio Boys Club were permitted to set up their booths in the same area.
ABC vice president and Old Lucban barangay leader Eva Marie Fianza said it was unfair for organizers to forbid them from holding a trade fair at Malcolm Square, while favoring another group identified as a major sponsor of the Panagbenga.
ABC officers said if city officials are banking on the prohibition of trade fairs, this should apply to all, including Globe Telecom and the Baguio Boys Club.
Speaking for the HRAB, which organized this year's Panagbenga, Rondez revealed Domogen was accused of collecting P10,000 each from those who set up stalls in the area.
"You should come to the council with clean hands," Rondez said, while advising the ABC that if they intend to hold activities at Malcolm Square, they should write the Council and seek their endorsement.
She added that Globe and the Baguio Boys Club merely conducted promotional activities and not a trade fair, which the ABC intended to do.
She explained the Trade Fair Ordinance mandates organizers or participants to get the approval of the City Council first before conducting any business. (ENO/RO)
