Caloocan solon scores Malonzo

Caloocan City Rep. Enrico Echiverri yesterday blasted City Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo for allegedly engaging in cheap tactics to further his political ambitions.

"It is very unfortunate that he has allowed his thirst for power to thwart others from serving the public. It is in this light that I vehemently denounce Mayor Malonzo’s acts of harassment perpetrated against me and people supporting me in these public service initiatives (jobs fair and medical missions)," Echiverri said in an interview.

Tension ran high when still unnamed persons reportedly sent by Malonzo started tearing down streamers announcing a job fair sponsored by Echiverri, one of the mayor’s erstwhile political allies-now-turned-enemies before Thursday noon in Caloocan City.

Timely intervention by the local police prevented what could have turned in to a bloody clash between Malonzo’s men and sympathizers of Echiverri at around 11 a.m. yesterday at the Lerma covered court in Maypajo, Caloocan City, a stone’s throw away from the city hall. Echiverri’s men also reported that Malonzo was seen personally tearing down the streamers a few meters from where the fair was being conducted.

Later on, Malonzo, in his green Dodge Suburban 4x4 and with about 20 bodyguards in tow reported one of Echiverri’s aides, rushed to Echiverri’s residence in Morning Breeze Subdivision to allegedly confront the solon about a camera purportedly taken by one of Echiverri’s men at the height of the commotion in Maypajo. Once there, Malonzo allegedly shouted at the lawmaker asking him to return the "stolen" camera.

It was reportedly taken by one Echiverri’s men from a city hall photographer taking pictures of what was going on in the jobs fair area.

The incident marked the first open confrontation between the two formerly close political allies. – Jerry Botial