THERE are now two barangay captains in Mambaling, Cebu City. This, following the two-year suspension of barangay captain Gines Abellana imposed by the City Council for abuse of authority and the assumption of the first councilor who already took her oath. Abellana refused to step down, claiming he would wait for the Department or the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to officially serve the suspension order. He would file a motion for reconsideration or may raise the matter to the Office of the President.
Abellana’s suspension stemmed from the complaints of his four Sangguniang Barangay (SB) members whose salaries he withheld for their refusal to render duties and services as officer of the day in the barangay hall on designated days of the week, which is a violation of the law.
Abellana, who is a lawyer, is allied with the Barug PDP Laban while the four SB members--Anne Marie Palomo; Edwil Managbanag; Victoriano Laborte and Neonita Cuestas--are allied with the Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK). Is politics behind this? Yes, of course.
Section 392 (Chapter 4) of the Local Government Code of the Philippines states: Other duties of the SB members—-in addition to their duties as members of the SB—SB members may a) assist the punong barangay in the discharge of his duties and functions; b) act as peace officers in the maintenance of public order and safety; and c) perform such other duties and functions as the punong barangay may delegate.
If I were in the shoes of Abellana, I would do the same. Why should I release their honorariums when they defied my order and violated the law? It is clear in the law I cited above. Abellana claimed the four SB members rendered duties at the Barangay Mayor’s Office (BMO) and not in the barangay hall. The BMO, a short of a shadow government, is created by the mayor in barangays whose barangay captains are not allied with his BOPK. BMO is the source of conflict and animosity among barangay officials. Some residents have acknowledged its existence because their requests for the delivery of basic services are immediately acted upon by City Hall.
Who said barangay elected positions are non-partisan? Who among the 80 barangay captains in Cebu City are not allied with the two major political factions, the BOPK and Barug PDP Laban? The contention that barangay officials should not engage in partisan politics is a misnomer. The committee that investigated Abellana was composed of Councilors Bebs Andales and Alvin Arcilla, all BOPK, and Jun Alcover of the opposition. Sa committee pa lang, pilde na si Abellana. May I ask members of City Council, which is dominated by BOPK allies, Had Abellana affiliated with BOPK, would you impose disciplinary action against him? I don’t think so. But since Abellana is with the opposition, the BOPK-dominated council immediately penalized him.
Abellana is suspended for withholding the honoraria of his councilors who refused to render work assigned to them. But when the “former political has-been” withheld the honoraria of barangay tanods, garbage collectors and lupon members, nobody dared to question his action. Where is justice here?
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Yesterday, was the start of the election period which would last for six months. One of the prohibited actions is the bringing of firearms outside of the residence even if the firearm’s holder has a permit to carry. Unless, he has exemption from the Commission on Elections. And because it’s election period, police checkpoints will be all over. Here are some checkpoint’s guidelines so you may know your rights:
Checkpoints must be well-lighted, properly identified and manned by uniformed personnel. Upon approached, slow down, dim headlights and turn on cabin lights. Never step out of the vehicle. Lock all doors of vehicles during inspection since only visual search is allowed. Never submit to physical and body search. Motorists are not required to open their glove compartment, trunk or bags. Be courteous, but firm in answering, assert your rights, have presence of mind and do not panic. Keep your driver’s license and car registration handy. Be ready to use your mobile phones at any time; speed dial emergency numbers. Report violations immediately.