Kamagayan captain suspended over punch

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has suspended the barangay captain of Kamagayan, Cebu City, for five months without pay after he was found guilty of an administrative case.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Darius Sagadal said there was sufficient ground to hold respondent Celestino Avila for simple misconduct for punching the complainant, Orlando Adarne.

In his complaint, Adarne said while he was at the basketball court of Barangay Kamagayan keeping score of a volleyball game around 8 p.m. last May 26, 2012, Lope Avila, the sister of the respondent was accidentally hit in the head by the volleyball and her eyeglasses were damaged.

He said Lope then approached him and asked who would pay for her damaged eyeglasses but he could not give an answer. In that moment, he said councilwoman Racquel Avila intervened and assured Lope she would shoulder the expenses.

However, Adarne said the respondent suddenly appeared out of nowhere and punched him repeatedly in the face. Aside from that, he said respondent allegedly shouted at him "to go ahead and ask for help."

After the incident, he said he went to get medical attention.

The respondent denied the allegations of the complainant. He said on the said date and time he was having a dinner and barangay tanod Rolando Huguete informed him that his younger sister was hit by the volleyball.

He claimed that he never went to the basketball court after he was informed later that the matter has already been settled.

However, with the foregoing evidence Sagadal ruled in favor of the complainant.

"This office finds substantial evidence to hold respondent administratively liable for simple misconduct," the decision read.

Sagadal then ordered Mayor Michael Rama to implement the decision and to submit a compliance report within five days from receipt. —/BRP (FREEMAN)