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Friday, April 28, 2006
Bugo execs padlock hall, hit chairman
By Danilo V. Adorador III
DEFIANT council members of Barangay Bugo on Thursday padlocked their barangay hall to prevent their chairman from holding office, creating tension that was later defused when officials from City Hall came to mediate.
Council members accused Barangay chairman Nerio Obliosca of forgery, illegal dismissal and other alleged misconduct. They sealed the barangay hall's main entrance at around 12 midnight Wednesday and showed their dislike for Obliosca by littering the facade with antagonistic slogans.
Obliosca, they said, conspired to forge signatures for the people's initiative, which concluded early this month amidst allegations that local officials rigged the process. Obliosca denied the allegations.
Later in the morning, city officials led by Councilor Maryanne Enteria arrived to break the standoff. The irate councilors agreed to open the barangay hall's corridor.
The act of shutting down a government office, however, may run counter with the law, said Director Clodualdo Espedilla of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
By sealing the main door of a government office, the barangay councilors have impeded the delivery of public services, Espedilla said.
"Nakalapas sila sa balaod ug mahimo sila mapasakahan og kaso (they have violated a law and maybe charged)," he said in a radio interview.
Obliosca said the motives of the barangay councilors were "purely political," and explained that those he fired upon assuming the post were either guilty of insubordination or were not anymore needed in the job.
He also accused some of the barangay employees of stealing documents from his office. He did not elaborate.
Obliosca has been in office for over a month after lawyer Perciverando Araña resigned to concentrate on his professional practice.
Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Alexander Dacer said all but one of the council members had signified intention to file administrative cases against the embattled barangay chairman before the City Council blue ribbon committee.
But he believes that Obliosca, a party mate in the ruling Padayon Pilipino, was a victim of "politics" and innocent of the charges.
Dacer said the both parties have already agreed a "cooling off period" until May 2, until which nobody is expected to stage "provocative measures."
But Sonny David, a council member opposed to Obliosca's administration, said their protest will continue until all complaints against the chairman have been addressed.
(April 28, 2006 issue)
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