Sedition charges filed vs Peewee for march on city hall

Pasay Mayor Allan Panaligan yesterday filed sedition and inciting to sedition charges against dismissed Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad, a number of dismissed councilors and barangay captains following a clash with policemen when he and hundreds of supporters trooped to city hall to get his job back two weeks ago.

Apart from Trinidad, named respondents in the case filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office were former Vice Mayor Antonino Calixto, former councilors Jose Antonio Roxas, Noel Bayona, Editha Vergel de Dios, Lexter Ibay, Arnel Regino Arceo and Richard Advincula, and barangay captains Eduardo Balanova, Teodoro Llorca, Eusebio Morales and Romeo Españo.

Panaligan alleged that Trinidad and allies "conspired, confederated and mutually helped each other" when they showed up at the city hall on Feb. 1, resulting in a clash between Trinidad supporters and police officers sent to block them from the premises.

Panaligan said the clash "caused disruption in the Pasay City government’s basic delivery of services."

Apart from the fireman and two policemen who were injured in the incident, around 30 protesters sustained minor wounds and were rushed to Pasay City General Hospital for treatment.

Trinidad said he went to the city hall to deliver a copy of his letter to Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to Panaligan’s office. He argued that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) should reinstate him, arguing that he had served his six-month suspension, and his dismissal by the Ombudsman on graft charges was not yet final.

Trinidad, Calixto and eight councilors were ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in a P464.6-million illegal garbage collection and disposal contracts in 2004 to 2005. Panaligan was installed by the DILG as the new city mayor.