Mabanto is new Mandaue prosecutor

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office has new city prosecutor.

Acting city prosecutor Bienvenido Mabanto is now the new city prosecutor replacing retired city prosecutor Ferdinand Peque after he was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III.

Regional State Prosecutor Fernando Gubalane told The FREEMAN Mabanto has long been designated as acting city prosecutor after Peque retired from service.  Mabanto, deputy city prosecutor was next to Pique.

Mabanto, 60, assumed office last March 27, 2013.  He took his oath before Gubalane. Mabanto has been serving in the Department of Justice for 30 years.

Gubalane’s message to Mabanto was to follow the strict rules and regulations of DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima and to have commitment.

Mabanto became controversial the previous year after he was accused of mauling Tamotsu Miyauchi.  However, he denied the allegation.

In fact, he said he filed charges against the Japanese for physical injuries, malicious mischief and direct assault.  The incident happened in 2010 while Mabanto was on his way to Mandaue Hall of Justice in Barangay Subangdaku.

However, the case was provisionally dismissed after Miyauchi made a public apology to Mabanto published in three daily newspapers.

Aside from this incident, Mabanto was accused of slapping bus driver Rolando Lequin, a resident of Barangay Poblacion, San Remigio, Cebu, over a traffic incident.  Lequin allegedly hit the vehicle owned by Mabanto.

However, Gubalane said as far as he knew, Mabanto was cleared from any charges after the bus driver withdrew his complaint.   (FREEMAN)