Capitol to file countercharges on Barili bus issue

CEBU, Philippines - Even without being furnished copies yet of the cases filed against them by a private company for the confiscation of a tourist bus in Barili, Capitol officials are firm on their stand that the bus was not taken illegally but  was just turned over to the rightful owners.

Provincial General Services Office Acting head Eva Encabo said that they have not received a copy yet of the cases reportedly filed by Pragmatic Development Construction Corporation, but added that there was nothing wrong with the action and it should be the petitioners that should be sued instead.

Encabo, along with Acting Governor Agnes Magpale, Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas, chief of Barili Police Station Police Insp. Arvi Arbuis, three municipal employees  and 16 others, were sued by Ray Bayno, a watchman of Pragmatic Devt. for allegedly being forced by the respondents to allow them inside the property of the company where the respondents took the bus against his will.

Bayno filed criminal complaints against the respondents for grave coercion or unjust vexation, slander by deed and for the crime of carnapping. Administrative cases for grave misconduct, abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of public officials were also filed.

But Encabo said that the bus should never be in the property of Pragmatic in the first place and should be under the supervision of the municipal hall.

“This is not supposed to be given to the barangays, this is supposed to be with the municipality,” said Encabo, explaining that she was one of those who made audits for the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures (e-Gwen) Our Cebu Program, reason for her to know that Barili was among the top 10 awarded with the tourist bus.

According to the complaint of Bayno, the tourist bus was awarded to the Liga ng mga Barangay Barili chapter but Encabo said that the Municipality of Barili is the rightful owner since they were the ones who made the effort to place seventh in the program.

“Ang nagtrabaho ato (competition) ang municipality not the barangay,” said Encabo adding that there was a separate program for the barangay which she already explained to the petitioner and the barangay officials prior the confiscation of the bus.

The bus was reportedly awarded by suspended governor Gwendolyn Garcia last year to Mantalongon Barangay Captain Normal Anore instead to Barili Mayor Mariñas. Anore heads the Association of Barangay Councils and is an ally of Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia, brother of the suspended governor.

Mariñas earlier said that they will be filing robbery charges against Anore for allegedly hiding the tourist bus inside the batching plant of Pragmatic Devt. The bus was also missing parts when it was confiscated.  —/JPM (FREEMAN)