CAGAYAN de Oro City policemen are on the lookout for former city councilor President Elipe and his sibling, Pristine Elipe-Quizon, after a warrant of arrest for alleged corruption was issued against the two by the Sandiganbayan 4th Division.
Police Senior Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, Cagayan de Oro Police Office (Cocpo) chief, said the office received a copy of the warrants of arrest on Friday, November 4.
Cariaga said personnel from the Cocpo’s warrants section and the City Public Safety Company tried to serve the warrants on Monday morning, November 7, at the known addresses of the two.
The policemen went to the villages of Camaman-an and Carmen but the two were said to be out of town.
The warrants were signed by Associate Justice Jose Hernandez who set the bail for the provisional liberty of both accused at P30,000.00 for each case.
Last August, Elipe and Quizon were found guilty by the Office of the Ombudsman of serious dishonesty and falsifying public documents in 2015.
The two were charged following a complaint filed by City Administrator Dionnie Gersana accusing Elipe, former Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, City Council secretary Arturo de San Miguel, and Quizon, Elipe’s sibling and secretary, for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial for best interest of service.
San Miguel and Acenas were absolved of the charges.
Gersana, in his complaint, said Quizon’s date and time record (DTR) made it appear that she reported for work during the dates 25, 29, and 30, 2013 for the payroll period October 16 to 31 2013.
But a travel record from the Bureau of Immigration showed that Quizon had been out of the country on October 25, 2013 and came back to the country only on October 30, 2013.
The decision said that despite being fully aware of Quizon's absence, Elipe still approved and certified the DTR as true and correct, "making it appear that he verified the hours indicated therein."
Days after the Ombudsman decision came out, Elipe's legal counsel filed a motion for reconsideration at the Court of Appeals.
Contacted for comment, Elipe said he was not aware that policemen had tried to serve arrest warrants against his sibling and himself.
"Wala may arrest warrant gi serve," Elipe said.
Elipe, who is general manager of the Pelaez Sports Center, said someone from the City Hall told him about the supposed arrest warrants but said his attorney has not informed him of about them.
"Naa nag-tip nako sa City Hall nga naa lagi daw warrant pero wala ko kahibalo ana," Elipe said.
Lawyer Leon Gan, Elipe's political ally and one of his legal counsels, said they have not even received a copy of decision from the Ombudsman denying their motion for reconsideration.
"How come nga naay arrest warrant nga wala pa man gani mi kadawat sa decision kung gi-deny ba ang among MR (motion for reconsideration)," Gan said.
Gan also explained that nobody has informed them about the warrants of arrest which were also not presented to them.
Asked if his client had posted bail even before the supposed arrest warrant was served, Elipe and Gan said they haven't taken any action.
"Maghulat lang mi. As of now wala gayud mi kahibalo," Gan said.