Pro-Trinidad group launches signature drive

A multi-sectoral group has been formed to gather support for suspended Pasay Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad.

Alex Acabado, spokesperson of the Pirma Mo para sa Pasay, said they are conducting a signature drive aimed at bringing Trinidad back to office. Members of the group include barangay captains, jeepney and tricycle drivers, vendors and concerned residents of the city.

He said they are set to submit a petition together with the signatures to the Court of Appeals. This is in support of the temporary restraining order (TRO) earlier filed by Trinidad with the Court of Appeals after the Office of the Ombudsman issued a suspension order against the mayor last Sept. 1.

"If a TRO will be issued, Mayor Trinidad can go back to work at City Hall and this is good news for Pasay residents. The city will again be safe and stable," Acabado said.

Trinidad, Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto and 10 councilors were suspended over an alleged anomalous garbage collection and disposal contract they entered into in year 2004.

The Department of Interior and Local Government served the suspension order at City Hall last Sept. 6.

Acting Mayor Allan Panaligan, acting Vice Mayor Arvin Tolentino and Councilors RJ Cabrera and Marlon Pesebre took over City Hall the following day despite the presence of Trinidad’s supporters.

The four were the only members of the City Council not suspended by the Ombudsman.

Panaligan said he will allow groups to mobilize in the city as long as they do not hamper operations of the city government.

Meanwhile, a lawyer has urged Trinidad to stick to the issues instead of crying "political harassment" as the alleged motive behind the graft charges against him now pending before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Antonio Sixto, legal counsel for barangay chairman Juanito Delmendo, the lone complainant in the graft case, said Trinidad must clear his name by directly answering allegations that he illegally extended the garbage contract, violating Republic Act 9184, also known as the Government Procurement Act.

"I understand there are several charges before the Ombudsman against the mayor and he must face them squarely instead of diverting the issues and claiming political harassment," the lawyer said.

RA 9184, enacted in January 2003, seeks to make government procurement as transparent as possible and stave off graft and corruption.

According to the lawyer, the only time that a government contract could be extended is when there is an emergency situation. However, the extension can be done only once and should not exceed six months.