LA TRINIDAD Councilor Nestor Fongwan Jr. filed an administrative case against the town’s zoning officer for alleged corrupt practices.
In an affidavit complaint filed by Fongwan dated April 2, 2018, he accused Engr. Emerson Tabernero of "Grave Misconduct, Dishonesty, Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service which violates Sections 4 and 7 of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct for Ethical Standards for Public Officials.
The complaint came after a certain James Benos who owns a parcel land at Longlong, Puguis in La Trinidad town, was earlier notified by the Office of the Municipal Mayor to comply with the requirements for an excavation permit within his property.
Based on his affidavit, Benos contracted the services of Engr. Jun Palan to process the documents needed for the issuance of the necessary permit in June of 2017 for the issuance of the needed permit.
It alleged in October 2017, the documents were returned to Engr. Palan by the Municipal Zoning Officer without any or further instructions or comments as to what needs to be done to comply with the requirements for a permit.
In between submission of documents in June and October 2017, Tabernero allegedly asked for an amount for processing topographical profile sketch of the parcel of land where he was given P10,000 but no topographical sketch was produced.
In the second week of March this year, Benos have asked the help of Punong Barangay Sonny Balanoy on how to obtain an excavation permit and who at that time, was speaking to Councilor Fongwan over the phone.
Fongwan said he remains unfazed by the filing of unjust vexation filed by Tabernero.
"We have already warned him as early as 2016 to stop his corrupt practices but to no avail, naging worst pa. Kaya ako nagalit Kay Tabernero kasi galit ako sa corrupt. Kawawa ang mga taong nabiktima niya," Fongwan stated.
"We have a mandate to protect our people and I will do whatever it takes to protect them. With the filing of the administrative case, more victims will come out to tell their bad experiences with Emerson Tabernero," he added.