Lawyer asks BID: Explain departure of Lorega captain

A lawyer has demanded an explanation from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation why a barangay captain facing graft charges was allowed to leave the country despite the issuance of a hold departure order.

Lawyer Alfonso de la Cerna gave the BID officials five days to furnish him copies of the documents on the date and time of the departure of Lorega-San Miguel barangay captain Fortunato Parawan to the United States.

De la Cerna threatened to file a case against BID officials responsible for Parawan's departure last December 23.

"All the concerned agencies of the government were furnished the said order, precisely, I was amazed why this office allowed barangay captain Fortunato Parawan to leave the country not necessarily for that criminal pending case but for the hold departure order," De la Cerna told BID officials in a letter.

Parawan is one of the respondents in the graft case filed by Engineer Leah Rondez against Association of Barangay Captain officials in the city.

Rondez, the youngest daughter of de la Cerna, accused ABC officials headed by president Eugenio Faelnar of allegedly refusing to release her terminal leave payment amounting to P122,480 and other benefits.

Rondez also claimed that the ABC illegally terminated her and refused to reimburse her fuel expenses while she was still working as member of the association's support staff. - Fred P. Languido