Jonas wants Mabanto probed

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes wants Assistant City Prosecutor Bienvinido Mabanto Jr. investigated in connection with his involvement in a series of traffic related incidents.

Cortes told reporters yesterday said it was Mabanto's case that greeted him right after he arrived with city councilors from Romania.

Mabanto sits in the Mandaue City Traffic Management Board as vice chairman. Cortes is the chairman.

Cortes said that being the mayor and being the one who appoints people to the board, it is also his prerogative to replace them.

Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede said the council will summon Mabanto to hear his side.

Cortes said the city council could call for an investigation because the board was created through an ordinance.

Last Friday, Mabanto was accused of hitting the driver of a van at the parking area of a mall at the Reclamation Area in Mandaue City after Mabanto's car was hit by the van as it was parking.

Mabanto had ordered van driver Darwin Dabon detained at the Subangdaku police station.

The incident last Friday was Mabanto's third involving traffic.

In December last year, Japanese national Tamotso Miyauchi accused him of mauling and ordering his detention at the Subangdaku police station.

A month prior to the incident, bus driver Rolando Lequin accused Mabanto of hiting him because of a traffic violation.

Lequin filed criminal and administrative complaints against Mabanto in the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas and the Regional State Prosecutor's Office.

Mabanto denied all allegations.

The mayor said public servants should not be abusive because they are accountable to the people and he finds it ironic that Mabanto, who is a member of the traffic board, has been involved in controversies.

The mayor said he will ask Mabanto to explain his side and then invite his antagonists.

"It's unfair nga diretso ta ug condemn. Let's hear both sides before we make conclusions," Cortes said.

Cortes said Mandaue City Police Office Director P Sr./Supt. Noel Gillamac was right when he said that no one can be detained if what is involved in a traffic accident is just damage to property. (FREEMAN)