ABC-Cebu City hands off in Mambaling conflict

CEBU, Philippines — The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC)-Cebu City Chapter will not interfere in the ongoing leadership conflict in Barangay Mambaling.

ABC-Cebu City Chapter president and Barangay Kasambagan village chief Franklyn Ong told reporters that the long-standing issue should be settled between elected barangay captain Gines Abellana and councilwoman Anne Marie Vestil Palomo.

“It’s not a proper forum. It’s already being taken care of by the Sangguniang Panlungsod [Abellana’s suspension]. During that time, as far as we are concerned, he is suspended,” Ong said.

The spat between Abellana and Palomo was brought up in yesterday’s ABC-Cebu City Chapter second general assembly where the former alleged that Palomo has in her possession 30 donated chairs meant to be received by the barangay.

He said ABC delivered the chairs to Palomo instead of to the barangay hall.

“According to him, naa kuno sa balay ni konsehal Palomo. Ingon ko wala nako’y labot ana. It’s between you and Palomo. Inyoha nana, basta amo na gihatag ang chairs para sa barangay,” Ong said.

He said ABC has photos that will prove that the chairs were claimed by barangay staff.

“Yes, because that is between sa ila na gyud na ang problema, wala’y labot ang Liga ng mga Barangay ana. Basta as far as I am concerned, we have photos that can prove nga gi-pick up and we have documents nga gi-authorize niya pag-receive sa gihatag nga chairs,” Ong said.

The donation of chairs to all 80 barangays is among the projects of ABC-Cebu City Chapter under the leadership of Ong.

The FREEMAN tried to get the statement of Palomo but she could not be reached as of press time.

Last week, the City Legal Office asked the intervention of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) over the issue.

The city government is still waiting for the legal opinion of DILG on the matter.

DILG-Cebu City officer-in-charge Ian Kenneth Lucero previously said the issue has been forwarded to the legal service of the central office in Manila.

The conflict of Abellana and Palomo started when the City Council suspended the former for allegedly not releasing the honoraria of four barangay councilors from July to December 2018.

Since then, Palomo assumed office as the acting chairwoman after she took oath before outgoing mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Other issues discussed during the second general assembly include the hospitalization assistance, burial assistance, and update of the P5 million assistance to every barangay. (FREEMAN)