Brgy capt charged for 'embarrassing' council member

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas recommended the filing of charges for slander and light threats against the barangay captain of Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City for allegedly shouting at a member of the barangay council in front of many people.

The complainant, Diosaminda Hayashi, alleged that the barangay captain, Lourdes Ibag, embarrassed her by shouting at her inside the barangay hall early afternoon on August 12, 2011 without justifiable reason.

"You are using the barangay workers. You placed you own people here in the barangay hall to spy on me. You are putting up capital so you will become barangay captain. I am not afraid of your bodyguards. I will make you disappear because you will run for barangay captain! So watch out!" Hayashi quoted Ibag as saying.

Hayashi alleged that Ibag was pointing to her niece, Roselyn Andong, as having acted as a spy. People in the street reportedly stopped and witnessed the incident.

Hayashi then filed a complaint for grave oral defamation and grave threats against Ibag before the Ombudsman.

Graft investigator Pio Dargantes said the alleged threats fall under the provisions of Paragraph 2, Article 285 while the defamatory statements fall under the provisions of Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code.

"Both of the said felonies are under the Rules of Summary Procedure," Dargantes said.

He then recommended the filing of slander and light threats against Ibag before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Lapu-Lapu City. Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol approved the recommendation. — (FREEMAN)