Militants assail graft raps vs. Lahug councilman

Bayan Muna yesterday denounced the filing of a graft case against barangay Lahug councilman Romeo Burden and alleged that it was an act of "political harassment."

Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann De los Santos and four of her councilmen filed before the Ombudsman-Visayas a case against Burden last October for allegedly destroying a government property while under the influence of liquor.

Burden was eventually charged for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public official and malicious mischief.

This prompted Arman Perez, of Bayan Muna group, to issue a statement accusing De los Santos and the four councilmen of harassment.

Perez alleged that the motive of filing the case was political "because Burden is planning to run against her in the 2007 barangay elections."

De los Santos denied the accusations of Perez and said that last September 19, she issued a memorandum to Burden asking him to answer within 48 hours the allegations of his misbehavior, two days earlier on the evening of September 17.

Burden replied to the memorandum but he refused to answer the allegations contending that De los Santos and the barangay council has no jurisdiction to investigate him. He added that he would just submit his reply in the proper forum.

Burden said the police blotter was not enough to substantiate the allegations so these were mere hearsay. There was not even a single affidavit from complainants so he could make the proper and formal rebuttal, he said in his reply to De los Santos.

Based on the blotter of barangay Lahug, Burden allegedly went to the tanod office "under the influence of liquor" bringing a rock with him, and, without apparent reason and provocation, struck the sliding windows of the office.

At least two tanods, Climaco Lucanas and Angelica Baldoza, stood as witnesses to the alleged acts of Burden.

The blotter also stated that Burden allegedly damaged the headlight of the barangay's Isuzu vehicle, and damaged the frame of a barangay signage. - Ramil V. Ayuman/RAE