ANGELES CITY -- City Councilor Alfie Bonifacio on Saturday cried foul over what he branded as “martial law” being imposed by the administration of Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and Vice Mayor Vicky Vega-Cabigting at his office at City Hall.
Aside from Bonifacio’s, the offices of City Councilors Pogs Suller, Bryan Nepomuceno and Dan Lacson were also allegedly “padlocked” for unknown reasons.
Bonifacio and the three councilors come from the camp of former Mayor Francis Nepomuceno, surviving the battle during the May polls.
Bonifacio told Sun.Star Pampanga that on July 1, after their formal inauguration at the City Hall grounds, their supposed offices were locked up and inaccessible.
“It’s like martial law. Right after they [Pamintuan camp] called for unity, this is what they do. It’s all contrary to what they boasted as ‘abe abe tamu king serbisyu’ (together in service),” Bonifacio said.
He added that he just had his future office renovated at his own expense. “Is this how they welcome a new comer like me?” queried Bonifacio, adding they were informed by a source at City Hall that the orders to have the councilors’ offices padlocked came from Cabigting.
Miscommunication, harassment
But for Cabigting, Bonifacio’s complaints were a result of miscommunication and attempts to continuously harass and discredit her.
“Maybe there was miscommunication because the office Councilor Bonifacio requested was also requested ahead by Councilor [Alex] Indiongco. Last Friday I already issued a memo regarding the assignment of rooms at City Hall. Para walang gulo. As Chief of Office, I have to let that go through a proper process. Even City Administrator [Dennis] Noy Pamintuan said the offices would have to be repaired and renovated,” Cabigting told Sun.Star Pampanga Sunday.
She said that Bonifacio had the office allotted for Indiongco renovated anyway even as he was already informed of the prior arrangements, adding she has not received any request for a room from Councilor Dan Lacson.
“The proper way here is to have all these taken cared of by the GSO (General Services Office). But the problem is that the outgoing councilors do not want to return the keys of the offices to us, contrary to what we have agreed before and despite a second memo. Wala silang karapatan na gawin iyon. They just want to continuously harass and discredit me,” Cabigting concluded. (Jovi T. De Leon)