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Saturday, August 06, 2005
Vice Mayor considers libel raps against 6 councilors
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO City Vice Mayor Luis C. Bonguyan and 15 councilors claimed Friday they are the "real conscience bloc" in the City Council
In a press conference at the Apo View Hotel, Bonguyan said he is planning to file libel charges against Councilors Nilo G. Abellera, Victorio S. Advincula Sr., Danilo C. Dayanghirang, Diosdado Angelo A. Mahipus Sr., Paz C. Mata, and Nenita R. Orcullo for throwing various accusations against him over his alleged involvement in various anomalies at the City Council.
Present during Friday's press conference were Councilors Leonardo R. Avila III, Conrado C. Baluran, Gerald B. Bangoy, Ricardo B. Cabling, Domingo G. Dalodo, Jimmy G. Dureza, Emmanuel D. Galicia Sr., Peter T. Laviña, Rene Elias C. Lopez, Amilbangsa T. Manding, Bonifacio E. Militar, Jesus A. Zozobrado Jr., Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta, Susan Isabel C. Reta and April Marie C. Dayap.
Bonguyan criticized Abellera's group, who earlier called themselves the "conscience bloc", for making him the target of character assassination.
Bonguyan said all corruption allegations are "rehashed issues" that were already clarified.
He said Abellera's group is "desperate" especially so because their committee chairmanships will be affected by the impending reorganization on Tuesday.
Bonguyan said the new majority tentatively agreed to replace Advincula with Galicia as the majority floor leader, Militar will replace Mahipus as chairman of the committee on finance and Bangoy, who is a doctor, will replace Abellera as chairman of the committee on health.
Abellera had been handling the committee on health for the longest time even after the City Council already had a medical practitioner, Bangoy, as among its members.
Advincula had earlier been booted out as chair of the committee on housing and urban and rural development following claims that subdivision developers are suffering "unwarranted delays" in the release of much-needed documents from the council.
Last Thursday, however, Abellera, Advincula, Dayanghirang, Orcullo, Mata, and Mahipus appeared in a press conference declaring their group as the conscience bloc and reading out a list of "anomalous" deals attributed to Bonguyan.
Bonguyan said the accusations pained not only him but also his family.
"Sakit sa huna-huna kay ang ilang gibuhat pagdaot sa akong pagkatao ug sa akong pamilya (It's hard to bear because what they did was besmirch my name and my family)," Bonguyan said.
Bonguyan said he received a text message Friday from Mahipus denying that they were targeting him in their exposé.
Bonguyan read Mahipus' message as saying, "Good am Vice. Wala man ka namo gipanganlan (We did not name you). Let's maintain our cordiality. Wala tayong personalan (There's nothing personal here). Let's stick to issues. At the end of the day... pulitika lang ito and we're still friends. Avoid being derailed by emotions. We are God's chosen leaders. Let's act as one."
Bonguyan, however, chided Mahipus, saying he is very good at turning tables.
(August 6, 2005 issue)
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