For “Intervening” in polls: Town mayor hits Capitol official

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez has expressed his rage through social media against Capitol security chief, Anthony Loy Madrigal, for allegedly intervening in yesterday’s elections in barangay Mahawak.

Ramirez alleged that last Sunday evening, Madrigal was reportedly at the residence of Lilibeth Noor, candidate for barangay captain of Mahawak, a fishing community, where fisher folks were asked to vote for Noor otherwise, they will be arrested.

Madrigal is also the team leader of a task force against illegal fishing of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).

“Pulis man kaha ka sa America, nag unsa man ka diri nanaginot sa sweldo sa Capitol?” said Ramirez.

Madrigal denied the allegations saying that if it is indeed Ramirez wrote the accusations in a social media site, Facebook, the official is “out of his mind.”

Ramirez said he learned that Madrigal is “grounded” for undisclosed reason. Madrigal was reportedly called up by a Capitol lawyer last Sunday and said that he was at the house of Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. when he was in Mahawak.

“Kanang kandidato nimo sa Mahawak mao unya pa swelduha nimo inig ka sikwate nimu ha kay gusto man g’yud ka mo papel pirmi. Mirisi,” Ramirez said.

But Madrigal said no lawyer from the Capitol called him up to ask about his whereabouts, adding that he was really in Bogo City since he resides there and he also dropped by the house of the mayor.

“Kana siya (Ramirez) nasuko ra na siya,” said Madrigal since according to him, Ramirez is supporting a candidate for barangay captain who he said is operating illegal fishing activities in Medellin specifically on the use of dynamite fishing within the 15-kilometer distance or locally known as “palukso.”

Ramirez also challenged Madrigal to read the law if he was once a US police and find if there is a so-called provincial waters.

“May makit-an gani ka regalohan teka’g chapa nga tinud-anay nga gold ilis anang imung gipapilit sa imong dughan nga sakit kaayu sa mata kay nasobrahan nimo’g padolar didto sa Freedom Park,” he said.

Ramirez is apparently referring to the Philippine Fisheries Code which defines only municipal waters delineated from the shoreline.

“Busa ayaw g’yud pagtuga-tuga og panghulga kay og maabtan teka diri sakop sa amoang waters basin unya’g malunod nang imu sakyan pero wa ka’y angayan kabalak-an kay mga iho diha dapit (Gi)Bitngil di mangaon og mga sikyu,” Ramirez added.— /GMR (FREEMAN)