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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Lorega chief: family spent for my trips
LOREGA Barangay Captain Fortunato Parawan took exception to allusions that he was one of those whose foreign travels were sponsored by the alleged drug lord and mastermind in the killing of a photojournalist.
Parawan immediately dismissed the reports, saying that some rivals are just sowing intrigues since a barangay election may be held next year.
He also does not believe he is the one Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña referred to when the mayor said some barangay officials are supporting drug lords and video carrera operators in Lorega.
Although the police has identified the mastermind in the killing of The Freeman and Banat News photographer Allan Dizon, police can’t arrest him yet since evidence against him has yet to be gathered, Osmeña said in a separate interview.
Supt. Salvador Manga, chief of Task Force Newsmen, did not discount the possibility that the alleged mastermind has good connections or contacts with the local police.
Manga raised this possibility upon learning that the suspect, whose name the task force refused to reveal, has not been arrested despite the latter’s illegal drug business.
Dizon was shot dead near SM City mall last Nov. 27.
Protection
Manga, also Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 chief, said the witnesses who have identified Edgar Belandres as the gunman in the Dizon murder will be placed under the witness protection program.
Belandres, along with two others, was arrested last Monday, a day after Dizon was laid to rest at the Queen City Memorial Garden.
Meanwhile, Nimfa Palis Dizon visited Mayor Osmeña in his office at City Hall to confirm whether he was the one who performed the marriage rites of Dizon and Amelina.
“No, I did not marry Allan Dizon, first, second, third or whatever,” the mayor told a news conference after Nimfa’s visit yesterday noon.
Nimfa, who is set to leave today for Malaysia where she is working as a domestic helper, took the time to show Mayor Osmeña all the documents proving that she remains married to Dizon and that their marriage was never annulled.
However, she is open to a compromise with Dizon’s live-in partner Amelina, if only to settle conflicts in claiming Dizon’s benefits.
Yesterday, Nimfa presented to reporters an original marriage contract showing that she and Allan were married on Dec. 22, 1993 at the San Isidro Parish in Talamban, Cebu City.
Washes hands
Mayor Osmeña believes Nimfa should get all the benefits for Dizon as she is the legal wife and has children with him.
“Of course, Allan is not here to answer that so I’m taking her word for it,” he said.
Upon learning that Nimfa has spent some P35,000 for Dizon’s funeral, Osmeña assured that she will be reimbursed, using the P50,000 assistance from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.
Tips that Dizon reportedly gave police about the drug trade in Lorega may have something to do with his killing.
The mayor said yesterday that his gravest concern at this time is the corruption of barangay and government officials, especially in the illegal drugs and video carrera business.
But Barangay Captain Parawan, in a phone interview, said that if the mastermind sponsored the foreign travels of some officials, it must have been those of the previous administration.
“I don’t even believe the mayor is referring to me. And if he is, it may be because somebody is sowing intrigues. I know there are people who are interested in my position. It’s expected because of the barangay elections,” he told Sun.Star.
Knows suspect
While it is true that he traveled this year, last year and in 2001, Parawan said he and his family members who are in the United States paid for his trip.
“Even before I became barangay captain, I was already traveling. I was even able to work in the US for a while. I also have savings to pay for my fare,” he added.
Parawan’s ailing mother, his wife, brothers and sisters live in the United States.
Without naming them, Parawan said two of the barangay officials from the previous administration went abroad during their term.
He said he will talk to the mayor to clear his name and to discuss with him the circumstances in the killing of Dizon.
Parawan also said he knows the mastermind in the Dizon case because he is his constituent, but that the man has long fled the barangay after his first arrest.
The mastermind, he added, has a pending warrant of arrest related to illegal drugs cases. (LCR/GC/GAC)
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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