Marañon's chief of staff shrugs off death threats

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  – Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Jose Ma. Valencia, who is also the chief of staff of Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., just downplayed reports of death threats on him, saying he could not think of any reason why a group would want him “liquidated.”

Valencia said he was surprised upon learning of the news, which was relayed to him last Friday by a staff at the Governor’s Office.

The staff said she received a call from an anonymous caller looking for another staff, to relay to Valencia that he was a target for liquidation by alleged members of the special partisan armed unit of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The caller added there were three other Capitol officials who were targets for liquidation, she said, adding that the caller said the revolutionary movement has handed the “death sentence” against Valencia over issues related to social injustice against the masses.

Valencia however told The Freeman that he could not remember committing any mistake against the masses that would qualify him as a legitimate target for liquidation by the NPA.

He said instead that he is more than ready to face the accusations being hurled against him.

Saying that this was not the first time that he received such death threat, he added that it may just be another attempt to discourage him from pushing through with reforms he initiated in the Capitol.

Meanwhile at the Bacolod City Hall, it was announced that secretary to the mayor Rodel Parcon and DPWH district engineer Josefino Melgar Jr. were relieved from their posts, effective Sept. 22.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Memorandum No. 139 informing Parcon that he was relieved of his duties and responsibilities as secretary to the mayor, and another memo designating city administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo as replacement. 

Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, when asked for his reaction on this movement, said the position of the secretary to the mayor, along with that of city legal officer and city administrator, are appointive in nature so he believed that the relief of Parcon was nothing personal.

“I think it is more of professional positioning in the different offices,” Sayson said, adding that he believed there could be other venues where a person may be more effective. He said the mayor has the prerogative to appoint a person to a certain position and he may have other plans for Parcon.

Balo, for his part, said the mayor has mentioned that Parcon will be assigned to the Public Information Office on an interim basis, probably to help provincial information officer Roger Giganan.

Melgar was reassigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Office in Iloilo City. His relief from the DPWH Bacolod District Office is part of the regular reshuffling being implemented by the agency, a DPWH source said. (FREEMAN)