Village chief, 5 others, suspended

CEBU, Philippines - The barangay captain of Ibabao, Cordova and his brother-councilman were preventively suspended for 60 days by Mayor Adelino Sitoy after criminal charges have been filed against them.

The suspension of Barangay Captain Chito Bentazal and brother-councilman Marvin Bentazal will take effect immediately after they receive a copy of Sitoy’s order issued last July 8.

The mayor has also directed councilman Jorge Dinoy to assume as acting barangay captain.

The two barangay officials, together with four tanods, Emeliano Bentazal, Teodoro Berdin, Efren Marcillana and James Tampus, are now facing charges for grave coercion and abuse of authority filed by the police before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Sitoy also preventively suspended the four tanods for two months.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Ruben Co, 50, a resident of Barangay Ibabao and chairman of the committee on entertainment for the barangay fiesta who engaged into trouble with the said barangay officials.

Co said that after securing the necessary permits from the office of the barangay captain, police and mayor’s office to hold a disco last May 10, he hired some personnel to install the sound system and the lighting equipment inside the basketball court.

The Bentazals, escorted by the four tanods, arrived and were very angry with the barangay captain claiming that he never issued a permit for the disco. He then directed to stop the installation of the sound system and the lights.

Co noticed that councilman Bentazal was carrying a black tennis racket bag and since it was not properly zipped, he saw a firearm magazine inside. Scared that the councilman will do something bad, he grappled for the bag.

At this juncture, SPO3 Rolan Pogoy, who happened to be in the area, quickly responded and was informed by Co about Bentazal carrying a firearm.

The four tanods prevented Pogoy from arresting the barangay officials. Despite being outnumbered, the policeman managed to disarm Bentazal of his KG9 machine pistol and arrested him.

Co filed a complaint against the barangay captain because he did not make a move to arrest his brother for illegal possession of firearms in his presence. The police certified that the barangay councilman had no permit for his gun.

Sitoy justified his order to place the two barangay officials under preventive suspension, saying that “the evidence of guilt against them being strong and to prevent them from exerting undue influence or pressure on complaining witnesses to the incident.”  (FREEMAN)