Camotes residents want mayor probed over ESA

CEBU, Philippines - Residents of the municipality of San Francisco, Camotes Island are asking the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate their mayor, Aly Arquillano, in relation to the distribution of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA).

Close to 1,000 residents from 15 barangays of San Francisco signed a letter addressed to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Elmer Paul Clemente calling for the investigation.

Aside from Arquillano, the residents likewise asked Clemente to include in the investigation the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and the 15 respective barangay captains.

Lydia Cartejana, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, alleged that majority of them in the barangay did not receive the ESA from the Department of Social Welfare and Development because the said officials chose the beneficiaries.

“Angayang dili unta pilion ang mga hatagan sa hinabang kay nagkinahanglan man niini ang tanan nga nabiktima sa bagyong Yolanda,” she said.

Residents likewise complained that although they almost lost their homes during typhoon Yolanda, what were listed were partially damaged.

The residents were accompanied by incumbent town Councilor Edgardo “Toton” Maningo.

Calls and text messages to Arquillano supposedly for his comment went unanswered.

Residents of Daanbantayan and Bogo City have also earlier lodged the same complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Meanwhile, lawyer Maria Corazon Naraja, spokesperson of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas, assured the public that since 2016 election is about to come, whatever complaint filed before their office will be resolved based on evidence and not on the motive.  (FREEMAN)