Sunday, December 16, 2007 Provincial prosecutor inhibits from case
RONDA Mayor Esteban Sia asked Cebu Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba to inhibit from the complaint filed against him by former Ronda mayor Mariano Blanco.
Sia believes he cannot get an impartial resolution of the case from Petralba’s office because the latter is allegedly an ally of the Blancos.
Blanco, the southern town’s former mayor but got elected last May as vice mayor, charged Sia with violating the Omnibus Election Code and Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code for failing to meet the residency requirement of one year in the country and six months in the place where he intended to vote.
‘Mommy Sally’
Regional Trial Court Judge Leopoldo Cañete ruled that, Sia reacquired Philippine citizenship only in January 2007 or four months before the May 14 elections.
Sia said he received information that Petralba calls Victoria Blanco, mother of Mariano, “Mommy Sally.”
Victoria was Sia’s rival in the 2007 mayoral race.
Petralba, in a separate interview, described the allegation as “unfounded and baseless.”
She said she was never involved in the town’s politics.
Motion granted
She recalled that the only time she was active in politics was when she stood as legal counsel for the Martinezes during the 2004 elections.
Petralba, however, decided that in order not to compromise the integrity of the office, she will grant Sia’s motion for inhibition.
Recently, the court declared Sia ineligible to run for office and hold the position as mayor for allegedly failing to meet the residency requirements.
But until the decision becomes final and executory, Cebu’s richest politician will remain town mayor. (KNT)
