CEBU, Philippines - Capitol Security Chief Loy Anthony Madrigal has appealed to Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to reconsider his decision asking him (Madrigal) to resign over an alleged affair with a married subordinate.
The relationship was brought to the limelight by Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, who posted on his Facebook account a photo of Madrigal in a “sweet moment” with the woman, who serves as his secretary.
Ramirez had said the photo was taken by his “undercover guys” last August 23, while Madrigal and the woman were at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Davide has instructed Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, who heads the Capitol committee on discipline and investigation, to look into the matter.
Madrigal said he would talk to Davide on Monday to explain his side, as the governor was in Malacañang yesterday for an official business.
He met the Davide at his office Thursday afternoon but was told by the governor that he would hear him out only on Monday.
Madrigal said the reason why he would like Davide to change his decision was because he was concerned about the small fisherfolks in the province’s crusade against illegal fishing.
“Akong gikabalak-an ang akong nasugdan. Kung naa lang ikapuli sa position nga makapanalipod sa mga gagmay nga managat (I worry over what I started. If there is someone who could take over to protect the small fishermen), I will go…. I am not worried about this job. It’s not the money that I came here for. There is no money here,” he told reporters yesterday.
“Milakaw ko sa (I left the) United States, where I was making way more than this (what I earn here). (But) I chose to come back home to serve because I believe in the governor’s leadership,” he added.
Madrigal said he would respect whatever decision Davide would make regarding the controversy he is involved in after they talk Monday.
“If the governor wants me to resign, I will submit (myself) to it. He is my boss, he is my superior,” he said.
He likewise said he would also request Davide to reconsider making the woman, who did not report for work since Thursday, resign from her job.
“Naluoy ko sa akong kauban sa opisina (I pity my co-worker; she is a single parent and has been supporting her two daughters,” Madrigal said.
While he admitted going to Manila three weeks ago to visit his sick uncle he said that his secretary was not with him that time.
He said the photos Ramirez uploaded were just edited and manipulated because of malicious intent.
He also said that it was none of Ramirez’s business to know whom he met during that trip because “that was my private time.”
He said Ramirez should prioritize curbing illegal fishing in Medellin town instead of getting involved in “showbiz.”
“He should focus sa iyang business. Daghang illegal fishing sa iyang lungsod. Sige siya’g deny ako pod sige’g dakop (Illegal fishing is rampant in his town. He keeps on denying it, while I kept on making arrests there),” Madrigal said.
For his part, Ramirez challenged Madrigal to prove his claim that the photos were just edited.
“I have dared him…to prove who is lying between both of us. I am ready to show the pics and my source to the media if he is also willing to resign right there and then. This will show who is lying here,” he stated in a radio dyLA Facebook post.
He belied the allegation that he did nothing in going after illegal fishing in his town, saying he even apprehended a fishing boat that “brazenly fished near the seashores of our rich fishing ground.”
He said the fishing boat was allegedly protected by Madrigal, who heads the Capitol’s Anti-illegal Fishing Task Force enforcement team. Ramirez further alleged that Madrigal’s operations against illegal fishers were “selective” and “tainted with politics.”
“Kung mga illegal fishers gani nga modangop sa iyang kandidato, di niya dakopon. Akong gihangyo kung manakop, manakop sa tanan, way politika-politika (If it is the illegal fishers who are close to his political benefactor, he does not arrest them. I like him to go after all),” Ramirez said.
Madrigal denied this, saying he had even refused to accept a P500,000 bribe once.
He said many have tried to offer him money but he did not yield, adding that he would only release arrested fishers if the governor would tell him to, which the governor has not done so far.—Michael Vencynth H. Braga/RHM (FREEMAN)