Islamic Center barangay chairwoman suspended

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza suspended for 60 days the barangay chairwoman of the Islamic Center over the shooting incident and harassment of media men last month as City Hall continues its investigation on the incident.

Atienza said they also filed administrative charges against Barangay Chairwoman Nurhaina Lucman, of Barangay 648 Zone 67 of Manila’s 6th District.

The suspension came 20 days after Lucman and her husband, a retired colonel, became the subject of complaints by media men. Charges of grave misconduct and abuse of authority were filed against her.

The Western Police District (WPD), with the cooperation of Lucman, arrested the three gun-wielding men during the press conference last month.

Hadji Ali Lucman, Weng Macabato, and Hadji Malik Lucman. They were charged with indiscriminate firing, illegal possession of firearms, and alarm and scandal.

"I am placing Chairwoman Lucman under preventive suspension for 60 days based on the recommendation of the City Hall committee chaired by Secretary to the Mayor Emmanuel Sison that conducted a separate investigation on the reported shooting and indiscriminate firing incident that marred a press conference in Quiapo last month," Atienza said.

The mayor told The STAR that Lucman could lose her job as barangay chairwoman if it is determined that she abused her authority.

He said they have strong evidence, particularly video footage, showing that she was present during the confrontation between Muslims and media men who were attending a press conference at the Quiapo mosque.

"Notwithstanding the denial of Chairwoman Lucman, it is apparent that there exists a reasonable ground to administratively charge her of abuse of authority. She was seen in the video footage taken by several media personalities who attended the press conference," Atienza said.

He added that witnesses also positively identified her as uttering unsavory remarks and making whimsical claims during the said incident. Moreover, the persons accompanying her were the ones who discharge their firearms indiscriminately.

"Clearly, what she had done is constitutive of the administrative offense of abuse of authority," a statement from City Hall said.

Last April 12, Chairman Datu Amerol Gulam-Ambiong, of the National Muslim Peace and Order Council, invited media to a press conference at the Golden Mosque. However, as Ambiong was reading his statement, they heard gunshots and were ordered to step out of the mosque.