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Friday, April 08, 2005
Village chiefs in conflict
* Dungon-C village chief Joel Piñas accuses Pali Benedicto's Ramonito Gratis of punching him
* Both officials, who are previously allies, explain their relationship went sour after Piñas withdrew support from Gratis as ABC-Mandurriao president
PALI Benedicto village chief Ramonito Gratis Thursday night challenged his colleague from Dungon-C, Joel Piñas, to a duel after the latter reported to Police Precinct 5 that Gratis hit him.
During an interview over Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, the fuming Gratis told Piñas he should bring a firearm and they would shoot each other whenever their paths cross.
"Dala siya pusil kay pagkit-anay namon tirohay kami. Wala ko 'ya nahadluk. (He should bring a gun; I'm not afraid of him)," he said.
Expressing anger at Piñas, Gratis denied punching him, saying he just patted the latter on the shoulder. He said if it were true that he hit him, Piñas would have never recovered.
But Piñas said he can tell the difference between a pat and punch and that he is mulling charges against Gratis.
He said he was buying balut at Mandurriao plaza when Gratis came after him. "I was embarassed because many people saw what he did to me."
Even before the incident, Piñas said, Gratis has been sending him threatening text messages.
Both officials, who were previously allies, explained their relationship went sour after Piñas withdrew support from Gratis, who was replaced by Navais village chief Jess Mercado as president of the Association of Barangay Captains of Mandurriao District.
Gratis accused Piñas of spearheading the move to oust him by circulating a petition.
Majority of the barangay captains then passed a resolution withdrawing support from Gratis.
But Piñas said it was not just him but their group who drafted the petition.
According to Gratis, he would not insist on staying but said he felt slighted with the seemingly traitorous move of his colleagues.
Treñas, Gonzales intercede
At the police station in Mandurriao, Mayor Jerry Treñas met with Gratis and the other village chiefs but no resolution was reached.
Mercado said they would again meet with the mayor at the Treñas residence this morning.
According to Gratis, Treñas asked him to talk to his colleagues. He agreed, he said, but not to Piñas and PHHC Block 22 village chief Horacio Salvacion.
Mercado said they would meet with the mayor without Piñas and Salvacion.
"We'll know then what he really feels; our aim is unity among all village chiefs. We hope we can resolve this conflict," he added.
Piñas said it is Gratis's right to refuse to meet with him. He's very emotional now which I understand, he said.
During a radio interview, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, who is a known ally of most village chiefs, said he would also meet with the group when he comes home to Iloilo City next week.
(April 8, 2005 issue)
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