Councilman, SK officials cleared of criminal raps

The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas cleared a barangay councilman and Sangguniang Kabataan officials of the criminal complaint charged against them.

SK chairwoman Ladiebren Zapanta of barangay San Nicolas Proper charged San Nicolas councilman Alvin Empinado, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President and city councilor Glena Bontuyan, SKF Vice President Rafonzel Quijano, SKF press relations officer Karl Suarez, SKF Sgt.-at-Arms Manny Pepito and SK councilors Gina Galan, Edjohn Osmeña, Marosie Abella, Ritchell Allones, Albert Vasquez, Star Jeil Revilla, and Joanna Marie Cabusas for allegedy violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Zapanta alleged that Empinado did not like it when she refused to give part of her honorarium to the SK councilors, secretary and treasurer. She said Empinado then connived with the other SK officers to fabricate charges against her such as her alleged falsification of SK Resolution No. 02, series of 2003 dated January 26, 2003. These SK officials, she said, filed a petition about the above charge before the SK Federation which earned her a one-year suspension.

Bontuyan entertained the report even if it "was not verified." And that instead of furnishing Zapanta a copy of the petition Bontuyan made it public through the media, Zapanta said. She also alleged that every time she went to Bontuyan for clarification the latter would just "snub and insult" her.

Basing that petition the SKF approved a resolution suspending her for one year without due process, Zapanta said. This resolution, she said, was approved by, aside from Bontuyan, SKF members Quijano, Suarez and Pepito whom, she alleged, did not constitute the majority of all SKF members.

Empinado denied forcing Zapanta into giving part of her honorarium. He said it was just a suggestion by him and the barangay captain Cenon Bacus.

To support this, Empinado submitted an affidavit of Bacus, who said Zapanta promised her SK councilors that she would share her honorarium to them as a gesture of goodwill.

Other respondents Galan, Osmeña, Abella, Allones, Vasquez, Revilla and Cabusas denied fabricating charges against Zapanta. In their affidavit they said the petition against her was filed because of the "apparent disinterest to discharge the duties of her office".

Bontuyan, Quijano, Suarez and Pepito also denied depriving her right to due process saying she was informed of the charges against her and given the opportunity to present her side.

Bontuyan explained that it was the media who asked about the document and that since it was a public document she gave them access to it. It was not also true she snubbed and insulted Zapanta saying she did not even come to her for clarification.

Also, because Zapanta "failed to show that she suffered undue injury in the process" the Ombudsman dismissed this criminal complaint. - Liv G. Campo