Family of slain boy only receives P200 assistance

The family of a 12-year-old boy who was tortured to death by another minor in Asturias town only received P200 financial assistance from the local government instead of the P10,000 released for them.

Barangay Captain Camilo Dacaldacal and kagawad Hercules Tampos of Sta. Rita, Asturias brought the case of couple Wilhemino and Virginia Miano during the regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan on August 28.

Twelve-year-old Al Quirante Miano was killed in barangay New Bago in June. His body was found inside a sack floating in the seawaters off Bantayan Island few days after.

Dacaldacal and Tampos presented before the SB their complaint against Zenaida Cortes, the municipal social welfare and development officer of Asturias, over the financial assistance received by the Miano family.

The family was given P10,000 financial assistance by the municipal government under Check No. 01555016 dated June 21 but only P200 was allegedly given to them by Cortes.

Dacaldacal and Tampos wanted the SB to conduct investigation into the anomaly.

As narrated by Tampos, Virginia accompanied Cortes to P. Del Rosario, Cebu City branch of the Land Bank of the Philippines to have the check encashed.

When the name of Virginia was being called, Cortes allegedly instructed her to stay in her seat and went to the teller to get the cash, and then gave P200 later to Virginia.

The municipal councilors invited Cortes during their session to shed light on the matter but she allegedly refused to attend, saying that she has not received an order from Mayor Leticia Orozco to attend the session.

The SB members, in their session last September 4, passed a resolution elevating the case to the Provincial Board. However, Orozco did no reportedly approve the resolution.

On September 26, the Provincial Secretary's Office received the resolution.

The SB members, in their resolution, told the PB that the complaint would not be given immediate action in the council considering that Cortes is "very close to the mayor."

They added that the executive department did not make any move to investigate the matter. - Gregg M. Rubio