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Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Battle for barangay top post resolved
By Aurea A. Gerundio and Joy G. Romares
DAVAO CITY -- Furious supporters of ousted Celso Tizon and Roberto Olanolan, who are battling it out for the Barangay 76-A chairmanship, flocked to the barangay hall in SIR in Matina Monday to rally behind their candidate.
Ultimately, however, Olanolan, who was declared the true chairman of the barangay by the Supreme Court (SC), assumed office peacefully later in the afternoon.
As early as 6 a.m. Monday, Olanolan and Tizon positioned themselves at the foot of each of the barangay hall's two stairways that lead to the chairman's office.
Outside, close to 500 supporters of the two gathered near the barangay hall and chanted slogans against the other group.
Olanolan warned early Monday he would take over Tizon's post before the day was over.
Tizon had previously held the barangay chief post of 76-A.
"Magkinaunsa man, mosaka ko sa barangay hall karong adlawa. Unsa pa ma'y gipaabot (Whatever happens, I will go up the barangay hall today. What are we waiting for)?" Olanolan said.
Tizon, who promised to fight him, backed down, reportedly after he was advised by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to respect the SC decision.
Shortly before noon, Olanolan was finally able to hold office. Olanolan earlier expressed dismay over Tizon's alleged refusal to accept the decision of the Supreme Court, dated November 9, and a memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Angelo Reyes, dated November 19, designating him (Olanolan) 76-A's barangay chief.
"Kadtong nigawas ang decision sa Comelec (Commission on Elections) en banc pabor ka Tizon, ninaog ko sa akong opisina peacefully. Unta ingon ana pud iyang buhaton (When the decision of the Comelec en banc came out in favor of Tizon, I stepped down from my office peacefully. I hope he will do the same)," Olanolan said.
Olanolan said that DILG 11 chief Rodolfo Razul has already declared that he is the legitimate barangay chief and not Tizon.
Tizon, on the other hand, said he was waiting for the local government to tell him to step down.
"I really received the documents from the Supreme Court and the DILG but I am still waiting for the advice from City Hall. I am willing to step down as soon as Mayor Duterte advises me to do so," Tizon said.
While commotion was going on outside the barangay hall at SIR, Matina, Talomo police arrested two armed supporters of Tizon.
Arrested were Frederick Romero, 24, of Times Beach, Ecoland and Henio Osorio, 34, of Phase 2, SIR, Matina, who were each found to be in possession of a caliber .45 pistol.
Olanolan alleged that Romero and Osorio were planning to kill him.
Tizon admitted that Romero and Osorio are his supporters but he denied he knew they were carrying guns.
Talomo police chief Vicente Danao appealed to the supporters of Tizon and Olanolan to stay calm.
Shortly after Danao's plea, police arrested another Tizon supporter for carrying a gun.
(December 7, 2004 issue)
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