Criminal charges to be filed vs. brgy. chief who “stole” streamer

Criminal charges are to be filed before the Ombudsman-Visayas this week against a barangay captain in Bogo City who was accused of stealing the streamer that welcomed Cebu’s fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to last week’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

Salimbangon’s spokesman Greg Senining accused Banban barangay captain Jose Oporto of stealing the streamer displayed at the city’s public plaza that welcomed the congressman during the visit of Governor Gwen Garcia to the city for the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo.

The Capitol has initiated the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo last week and Bogo City was among the places that were visited by dozens of foreign and local tourists.

Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. even led the local officials in welcoming the Suroy-Suroy participants that included Cesar Salimbangon, the congressman’s brother who is in charge of his projects in Bogo.

The streamer, which carried by the members of Banban Livelihood Program Association headed by Larry Orongan, was displayed facing the stage when barangay captain Oporto reportedly removed it.

“Ang gihimo ni Kapitan Oporto maisip nga conduct unbecoming a public official ingon man kalapasan kini sa lagda nga gilatid sa Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” Senining told The Freeman.

Oporto is a supporter of Martinez and Senining believed that this was the main reason why the barangay captain “stole” the streamer welcoming the congressman and his brother to that event.

Sesining had the incident entered into the blotter of the Bogo City Police Station, saying that they will teach Oporto a lesson by filing criminal charges against him before the anti-graft body probably on Wednesday.

“Ang gihimo ni Kapitan Oporto maisip usab nga pagpangawat kay human niya gitangtang, wala man iuli. Wala usab siya’y katungod paghimo niadto kay ang dapit nga gibutangan dili na sakop sa iyang barangay,” Senining said.

Although the Salimbangon brothers were not with the group, their sister, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, was with Garcia throughout the three-day Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Northern Escapade up to Bantayan Island. 

Orongan alleged that Oporto confiscated their streamer and did not return it to them.

 Bogo Women's Group Association headed by Mariz Aton also supported the claim of  Orongan.

 The two associations were organized by the office of Salimbangon as recipients of his livelihood assistance program in the fourth district.

 Cesar Salimbangon, who is reportedly groomed to run for mayor in Bogo in 2010, is the city coordinator of the programs of his brother.

 It was learned that Orongan ran against Oporto in the last barangay elections but lost. - Rene U. Borromeo and Gregg M. Rubio/LPM