Tuesday, September 04, 2007 Guv mulls charges vs Monkayo mayor By Ben O. Tesiorna
COMPOSTELA Valley Governor Arturo "Chiongkee" Uy is planning to file administrative charges against Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes Jr. over the latter's alleged admission that he gave financial support to the New People's Army.
Uy referred to a television interview of Brillantes where he admitted he gave money to the rebels.
"Kung totoo ngang nagbibigay siya sa NPA ng pera ay pwede siyang makasuhan (If it is true that he gave the NPA money then he can be charged) administratively and criminally. That's abetting a criminal. I am planning on filing an administrative case for now. I am now coordinating with the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government)," Uy said.
The governor also called on the police and the DILG to look into the veracity of Brillantes' admission.
Sun.Star Davao tried to get reactions from Brillantes, but failed to reach him.
A check with GMA-Davao, which did the interview, showed that the issue about giving money to the rebels came out amid Brillantes misgivings against Uy during the release of army soldier Pfc. Marjun Gatela last month. Brillantes rapped Uy for grabbing the credit of Gatela's release claiming he was the one negotiating for the release and even gave in to some of the demands of the NPA only to see Uy being the one to fetch Gatela when he was turned over to authorities by the rebels.
Earlier, Uy challenged Brillantes to a face to face talk after the mayor hinted that the governor could be behind the recent atrocities perpetrated by the rebels in Monkayo. Brillantes said proof to his suspicion is the turnover of abducted soldier Gatela to the governor on August 14.
Then on August 27, 2007, the rebels torched the truck owned by the Brillantes family in Upper Ulip, Monkayo. A military intelligence agent, Sergeant Toto Gaila, was also abducted by rebels during the incident.
Brillantes said it was clear that politics was behind the rebel atrocities against his family.
