Official hacked on nape won't get aid from city

Taptap barangay captain Jesus Bontilao, who was hacked in the nape by his wife last Wednesday, cannot expect financial assistance from the Association of Barangay Council of which he is a member.

This according to council committee chairman on barangay affairs Eugenio Faelnar, also the president of the ABC, who said the association only extends aid for hospitalization, which is related to sickness, job-related illness or death.

"We might be facing legal implications if the association will grant assistance to him since the incident is not job-related," Faelnar said.

The association gives P100,000 hospitalization assistance to barangay captains, P10,000 for barangay councilmen and P5,000 for the tanods. For death assistance, P30,000 goes to barangay captains, P20,000 for barangay councilmen and P10,000 for tanods.

Every year, the barangays will contribute P25,000 to the association.

Faelnar said that the only way that the barangay captains can help Bontilao is to give personal financial assistance. Faelnar already visited him in the hospital and gave him money from his own pocket.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña told reporters that the city is now working on extending assistance through Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

Bontilao is still confined at the Intensive Care Unit of the Perpetual Soccour Hospital while the police arrested his wife, Babylonia, who is now detained at the Camp Sotero Cabahug stockade.

The incident was reportedly born out of jealousy as Bontilao reportedly had a paramour, although this was denied by the members of Bontilao's family.

The family said that their mother vented her ire on him due to a family problem but refused to elaborate on its nature.

The two are living in separate houses. The barangay captain has been living at the house of his daughter Marilyn, while the wife remained in their family residence to tend to their flower farm. - Garry B. Lao