Cogon-Pardo chief denies 'withholding' document

Cogon-Pardo barangay captain Lyndon Fermo yesterday denied the accusation hurled against him by one of his constituents that he threatened to punch him when he asked Fermo for a certification.

But Fermo said he will welcome charges filed by the complainant, Andres Cuesta, who plans to sue him before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, because he is sure it will be dismissed right away for lack of merit.

Cuesta said he was shocked when the barangay captain threatened to punch him when he insisted that a certification to file action be issued to him last Sunday because such document is badly needed in filing a case against the alleged illegal occupants of the lot owned by his grandparents.

But Fermo said: "Sayop na nga dili kami mohatag og certification to file action ngadto ni Andres Cuesta, gani amo na kini nga giandam kaniadtong Marso 12, apan nasuko lang ko kay mora'g iya mi nga dali-dalion."

A certification to file action would mean that the complaint that was filed against the three illegal occupants of the lot of Cuesta's grandparents could not be resolved in the barangay level.

Cuesta gave this reporter a copy of the certification allegedly issued by Salvacion Raganas, the barangay secretary, mentioning the dates of the hearing of Cuesta's complaint for ejectment filed against the three illegal occupants.

But the issue became more complicated after Raganas yesterday claimed that such certification is not issued by her and that her signature appeared in that document was forged.

Raganas said she will consult Fermo about the possibility of filing a criminal complaint for falsification of official documents against Cuesta. But Cuesta insisted that the same document was really issued by Raganas.

He promised to present the original document this afternoon.

Cuesta also said he will file the necessary charges against Fermo before the Ombudsman- Visayas today. - Rene U. Borromeo