A COMPLAINT has been lodged against incoming Minglanilla Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president John Jesson Gimenez after he allegedly brought fellow SK chairpersons to a beach outing in the southern town of Alcoy two days before the SK Federation polls.
The complainant is Niño Justin Tecson, the Barangay Ward 1 SK chairman he beat in that election.
Gimenez is the grandson of Minglanilla Municipal Administrator Concordio Mejias.
SunStar Cebu tried to get Gimenez’s side, to no avail.
Tecson said he saw pictures of Gimenez and the 10 other SK chairpersons enjoying a beach outing in Alcoy on May 27 on the Facebook (FB) account of Erick Pagar, a job-order employee working as Mejias’s staff member.
Pagar, a former radio reporter, is also the official block-time handler for Minglanilla’s paid radio program in radio dyLA.
SunStar Cebu sought Pagar’s comment, but he refused.
Tecson also provided screenshots of the beach outing from Hermie Cansancio, the newly elected SK chairman of Barangay Manduang, who was present in the activity.
Tecson identified Gimenez’s companions as Cansancio, Cedric James Manayon of Barangay Cuanos, Charey Cañedo of Barangay Camp 8, Baby Daisy Recibas of Barangay Candulawan, Dave Canedo of Barangay Pakigne, Dianne Depairine of Barangay Tubod, Eguy Aldemita of Barangay Vito, Jomarie Sulat of Barangay Lipata, Neal Christian Prajes of Barangay Camp 7 and Josh Gadiano of Barangay Tunghaan.
Tecson said he initially heard that Gimenez invited 14 out of 19 SK chairpersons the beach outing, but four backed out.
“Nalisang gyud ko kay mao man gyud na usa sa mga rason nganung gisaway ang SK (One of the reasons the SK was criticized was precisely because of this style of politicking),” Tecson said.
Aside from Gimenez, five of those who attended the beach outing also secured positions in the SK Federation.
According to Joint Memorandum Circular 2017-01 drafted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Commission on Elections and National Youth Commission, any elective or appointive officials, including the SK chairperson, are prohibited from holding organization meetings or orientation seminars or other similar activities for the SK chairperson and federation members on dates and places other than those specified. (JKV)