|
Saturday, February 15, 2003
Plaint v. market supervisor, 2 market guards dismissed
By Rose O. Verzosa
THE Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas dismissed the administrative complaint against market supervisor Celestino Gochoco and his two market guards, who were accused of preventing the meat vendors from conducting a meeting inside the market building almost two years ago.
Although Gochoco is not liable for any administrative violation, the anti-graft office advised him “to maintain a degree of temperance in his words and actions” in order not to offend the vendors.
Allegation
Melquiades Caylan, president of the Mandaue City Meat Retailers Association Inc., accused Gochoco and market guards Buddy Rabaya and Franklin Icalina of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, but this was dismissed for lack of merit.
Esteban Valencia, the group’s consultant and spokesperson, alleged that Icalina had spied on them when they held a meeting on March 3, 2001.
When they had another meeting three days later, Icalina was already in their meeting place. Icalina stopped the group and told them to proceed to Gochoco’s office, instead.
When Valencia went there, Gochoco reprimanded him, claiming that they cannot do what they want without his consent. Gochoco also turned down their invitation to attend their meeting at that very moment.
Thereafter, the market guards appeared and dispersed the meat vendors. With this, the vendors were denied of the opportunity to hear from the City treasurer, who was scheduled to attend that meeting.
Gochoco admitted that he was irked when Valencia arrogantly asked him to join the meeting at that very moment. Since he had another schedule, Gochoco declined the offer.
Denial
Gochoco said he merely instructed the guards to ask the group if they have a permit and, if they have none, to ask them to transfer.
Besides, conducting a meeting along the aisle of the second floor of the market building will obstruct the flow of market goers.
The two guards claimed that since the group had no permit, they voluntarily left the place. They said it is not true that they used force and intimidation in driving the group away considering that they were unarmed and were outnumbered by the vendors.
In her decision, Graft Investigator Mona Chica Cabanes-Gillamac said: “It is our findings that this present controversy is just but one of the many products of the parties’ deeply rooted misunderstanding that expressed itself in hostility and antagonism.”
(February 15, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
