Gungob welcomes mineral theft charges

CEBU, Philippines - Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob, Sr. yesterday said he welcomes the move of the National Bureau of Investigation in charging him before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas for alleged mineral theft.

Gungob told The Freeman he is even “very happy” that the NBI filed the complaint because he can now avail of his Constitutional right to due process.

“Such is indeed a welcome move so that once and for all, the truth must properly be threshed out and for the truth to prevail in the end,” Gungob said.

What is “very unfortunate,” however, is the nature of the charge against him, which is theft because it connotes that he personally profited or gained something out of a government undertaking.

The Revised Penal Code defines theft as an act being “committed by any person who, with intent to gain, but without violence against or intimidation of persons, nor force upon things, shall take personal property of another without the latter’s consent.”

Still, he is reportedly confident that he would eventually be exonerated from charges.

“I am very confident that with their move of filing these cases, the political agenda of those who have an axe to grind against me, will be exposed in due time,” Gungob said. — Jose P. Sollano/JMO (THE FREEMAN)