5 file complaint vs Mabolo chief

CEBU, Philippines -  Five persons, including three senior citizens, filed criminal complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Mabolo Barangay Captain Reynaldo Ompoc for allegedly refusing to give them certifications that they could use to register at the Commission on Elections.

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol immediately referred the matter to the Cebu City Council because the city legislators are empowered to investigate complaints against barangay officials and to impose administrative sanctions if evidence against the respondents warrant.

The complainants are Anatalia Narido, 70, Gonzalo Ceballos, 62, Lolita Aniel, 66, Ernesto Bagtong, 55, and Ricardo Aniel, 58. All of them claim to be residents of Cabahug Street at the North Reclamation Area (NRA), which is part of Barangay Mabolo.

According to them, they have been living in Mabolo for the past 10 years although they have not registered as voters there.

They went to the Comelec office last September 13 to have themselves registered but they were told to secure first birth certificates from the National Statistics Office (NSO).

But since one of the requirements to secure a birth certificate at the NSO is a barangay certification, the five of them went to the office of Ompoc, but the latter refused to give them the certifications.

They claimed that Ompoc, an ally of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), reportedly told them he cannot issue certifications to them because they are “R people,” meaning supporters of Team Rama headed by re-electionist Mayor Michael Rama.

According to the complainants, Ompoc told them “Ayaw mo pagsamok-samok dinhi kay pangwarta ra nang inyong tuyo, wala ko kaila ninyo, pamauli mo og naa mo’y kapaulian.” (Don’t come here bothering me, I don’t know any of you. You obviously just want to make money so you better go home if you have one.)

The City Council also referred the case to the members of the City Council’s “Committee of Three” which is composed of councilors that represent the south district because Mabolo is part of the north district.

Ompoc said he is ready to face the complainants. — JPM (FREEMAN)