The City Council of Bacolod committee on laws has asked the complainant against Banago village chief Arnel Benjamin to furnish them a copy of the complaint and all affidavits of witnesses and evidences.
During the recent administrative hearing, Councilor Ana Marie Palermo, committee chairman, gave Benjamin 30 days from receipt of the complaint to submit his answer or counter affidavits together with the affidavits of his witnesses.
The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas forwarded to the City Council the administrative complaint filed by Arrah Mae Gordevilla of Barangay Banago against Benjamin for grave threat, slight physical injuries, grave abuse of authority and oppression.
Based on the complaint of Godevilla, she was allegedly hurt by the barangay captain when she tried to pacify him and her live-in partner in a commotion on January 26, 2014 at their residene in Purok Bayanihan.
Benjamin denied the allegations saying he was not even able to enter the residence of the couple.
Palermo said the next administrative hearing on the case will be held on July 9.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Council also received two separate complaints against the village chiefs of Barangay 21 and Tangub during its session Tuesday.
Julinda Necesito, 64, of Purok Matahum, Barangay Tangub filed an administrative complaint against Association of Barangay Captains president and Councilor Noli Villarosa for abuse of authority, oppression and misconduct in office in relation to the way he handled her case against Wilson Occeña, 58, whom he alleged as Villarosa’s uncle.
Necesito said that on May 25, a group of barangay tanods on board a carry vehicle came to their house upon the orders of Villarosa and forced her and her husband to go with them to the barangay hall where the village chief berated them in relation to a misunderstanding between her and Occeña.
Villarosa allegedly told her, “Don’t you know Wilson Occeña is my uncle? I will see you in court. I will put you to jail!”
Enalea Salvador, 48, widow, of Purok Paghidaet, Barangay 21, filed a complaint for grave threat, abuse of authority, and conduct unbecoming by a public official against village chief Gregorio Felipe Rife Jr., claiming that he approached her and said “Shut up! I will slap you,” after she engaged in a heated argument with Rife’s sister on June 1.(CNC)