CEBU, Philippines - Controversial prosecutor Vicente Mañalac finally abandoned the cubicle at the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office after being admonished by a ranking official of the Department of Justice from Manila.
Mañalac confirmed having received a call from an assistant chief state prosecutor, whose name he refused to mention, requesting him to end his “feud” with provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba.
According to Mañalac, he respected the request, prompting him to vacate the cubicle.
Another source, however, said that Mañalac was actually scolded by one of the chief state prosecutors of the DOJ in Manila for quarrelling with Petralba and bringing their difference before the public.
Earlier, Petralba told Mañalac to vacate the cubicle. But Mañalac refused and even filed a case for insubordination against Petralba before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
He also challenged Petralba to a debate on any public issues before their fellow prosecutors, lawyers and judges.
Although he already vacated the cubicle, Mañalac said that his challenge to Petralba to face him in a debate stays.
He earlier proposed that the debate be held at the session hall of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines with Atty. Democrito Barcenas as moderator.
Petralba only laughed off the challenge.
Mañalac got mad at Petralba when the she issued a memorandum asking him to vacate the cubicle that he did not use at the provincial prosecutor’s office because a newly appointed prosecutor will use it.
Instead of complying with the memorandum, Mañalac ordered Petralba to have his cubicle cleaned.
But Petralba’s non compliance with his memorandum prompted him to file a case for insubordination, claiming that he is superior to Petralba because he holds the rank as assistant regional state prosecutor.
Petralba, as provincial prosecutor, holds a plantilla with a salary grade higher than that of Mañalac. – Fred P. Languido/LPM (FREEMAN NEWS)