Bulacan solon to face House ethics body

A complaint will be filed against Bulacan Rep. Wilhelmino Sy Alvarado before the House committee on ethics for conduct unbecoming of a congressman for allegedly firing his gun while drunk to intimidate an opposition candidate for barangay captain, Sen. Blas Ople said yesterday.

Ople said a certain Buji Manansala, who intends to run for barangay chairman of Sto. Rosario in Hagonoy, Bulacan, will file the complaint against Alvarado.

He quoted Manansala as saying the Bulacan congressman fired his gun when he (Manansala) refused Alvarado’s appeal to withdraw from the barangay elections in favor of the incumbent.

Ople said Manansala is identified with the camp of Hagonoy Mayor Felix Ople, the senator’s son.

He said that he has been informed Manansala is filing a criminal complaint against Alvarado for grave coercion, grave threats, illegal discharge of firearms and for causing alarm and scandal.

Alvarado has written separate letters to President Arroyo and Speaker Jose de Venecia informing them of the Hagonoy incident.

A photocopy of the letter dated May 30 that was obtained by The STAR states to Mrs. Arroyo that "I have and always will hold you in high esteem Your Excellency, and will never do anything that will cause you directly or indirectly, harm."

The letter to De Venecia, on the other hand, said that he (Alvarado) would never do anything that will cause "the House of Representatives and our party, Lakas-NUCD, directly or indeirectly, harm."

The Senate committee on suffrage and electoral reforms is reportedly eyeing a proposal to investigate the Hagonoy incident, described as the first act of electoral terrorism in connection with the barangay elections on July 15.

Ople, however, said he does not favor this move.

"The proper jurisdiction belongs to the House committee on ethics," he stressed. "The chairman of the House committee on ethics, Rep. Tony Abaya of Isabela, is well known for his probity, independence and patriotism."

Alvarado has justified his firing his gun, saying he did so in self-defense after he was pushed by Manansala.

"Manansala is the husband of a daughter of my first cousin but he knows nobody when he is drunk. He had been drinking since early morning," Alvarado said.

He said that after he was pushed and nearly fell, he ran to his vehicle and took his handgun as the revelers scampered for safety. He admitted that he ran after Manansala and challenged the latter to a fight.

"Siguro, nawala ako sa sarili ko, pero ikaw man, kung itutulak, magagalit ka rin kahit hindi ka congressman o naging mayor (Maybe I lost it, but wouldn’t you also if you were pushed even if you were not a congressman or mayor?)" Alvarado said. – Efren Danao, James Managhaya