Cleric in rape complaint surfaces, denies charges

After a long wait, Iloilo mediamen saw on Wednesday Fr. Martin Alarcon, the Catholic assistant parish priest accused of alleged rape before the Iloilo provincial prosecutor’s office.

Fr. Alarcon was accompanied by his lawyer, Arturo Padojinog, when they went to the prosecutor’s office.

"Cecile" (not her real name), the complainant, has also lodged a complaint with the Jaro Archdiocese’s tribunal to investigate the incident.

Cecile also later complained that three priests and a nun allegedly detained her illegally and obstructed justice when they allegedly pressured her not to file criminal raps against Alarcon.

The three clergymen and the nun have denied the allegations. But they admitted that they were only trying to assist her.

Fr. Alarcon, however, simply declined to comment on the charges against him.

Padojinog also denied all the charges against the priest. He did have a point, though. He denied that Fr. Alarcon had had any relationship with Cecile.

"But even assuming they had had (any), if I am the boyfriend, will I rape my girlfriend?" asked Padojinog.

Ceneco president, manager fired

The National Electrification Administration fired on Wednesday Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) board president Eddie Guillem and OIC general manager Noriel Bermudez, who were found to have committed administrative violations.

The NEA also ordered the suspension for 31 days of directors Jobert Tagobader, Gregorio Duremdes, Gerardo Solas, Perlito Fuentesfina, and Eduardo Torrecampo effective immediately.

Since Tagobader, Duremdes and Solas had earlier been slapped a 30-day preventive suspension, this will be credited to their latest penalty.

The NEA order for Guillem’s removal and that of Bermudez also included disqualification for employment in any electric cooperative and running in future Ceneco district elections.

It also rejected the motion for reconsideration filed by Bermudez on his 30-day suspension.

The administrative charges were filed by NEA director Veronica Cruz as nominal complainant with the Ceneco management and board of directors as respondents.

The administrative charges involved the contract between Guillem and Bermudez with Power Star Inc. using the Reinvestment Fund; irregularity in the contract executed with both Power Star Inc. and Pazfik Power Inc.; Bermudez’s act of promoting himself as manager of the consumer accounts department; and the failure of the management to abide by its by-laws in rehiring employees.

Eddie Adlao has been named Ceneco project supervisor following the ouster of Bermudez.

The only remaining directors of the Ceneco board are Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Roberto Montelibano, Julius Tamayo, and Cesar Leonardia. Montelibano now acts as presiding officer and is also the co-signatory of Adlao in the checks being issued for Ceneco payments.

That’s what is happening to Ceneco, the electric cooperative that had always figured in controversies in the past. Perhaps, something could be done to once and for all address the problem of corruption and malfeasance that has been rocking the cooperative for sometime now. And perhaps, the consumers will eventually find relief in the charges being raised every now and then.

Iloilo Airport squatters

That may actually be the concern of only one airport. But it could affect others.

Take the case of the Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao and its eventual disposal or sale when the airport is transferred to Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan.

The problem is that the old domestic airport has some 300 informal settlers, as the squatters are now called.

This means that the winning bidders will have to relocate the affected households and the airport could fetch a higher price had there been no squatters’ problem.

DOF Undersecretary for Privatization John Philip Sevilla arrived in Iloilo on Tuesday for a pre-bid conference on the airport with Air Transportation Office chief Alan Java, city legal officer Edgar Gil, and CLO Giovani Miraflores at City Hall.

Participating bidders will compete before the privatization council on April 24.

This council is composed of the DOF, DTI, the budget and management department, the justice department, and the National Economic Development Authority.

Earlier Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas proposed a mixed development concept for the old airport. This will include commercial buildings, an information technology park, a hospital, convention center, and a theme park.

Mayor Treñas said the city government could recommend an available relocation site for the airport squatters, who include some 30 families of ATO personnel.

Capiz showdown

Capiceños are eyeing with bated breath what most of them consider as a showdown of strength between Sen. Mar Roxas and President Arroyo for political supremacy in this hitherto Liberal Party stronghold.

That was the speculation among local analysts with the recent defection of Rep. Fredenil Castro (second district) from the Liberal Party to the Lakas-CMD. He was also named district chairman of the party.

This development triggered speculation of an imminent contest for power between GMA and Sen. Roxas and his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas. The mother and son tandem has long been the acknowledged leaders of the LP founded by the late President Manuel Roxas.

Meanwhile, graduating City Mayor Antonio del Rosario confirmed that he is running for congressman in the first district. Rep. Rodriguez Dadivas, a relative, reportedly gave way to Del Rosario although he is eligible for one more term.

Dadivas’ son, Ronnie, will be drafted as the official LP bet for Roxas City vice mayor, although he is a councilor for only one term.

Del Rosario will be challenged by former Capiz governor Jose (Ting) Borda of the Lakas party.

Kampi, on the other hand, is reportedly fielding retired Supreme Court Justice Josue Belosillo for congressman. And Belosillo, according to sources, is reportedly considering it seriously.

There are also speculations that Gov. Vicente Bermejo may opt to run for Congress and his wife, Suzette, for the mayoralty post.

At any rate, the most important development is the state of anxiety over the perceived impending struggle for political supremacy in this LP stronghold between the Roxases and the forces allied with President Arroyo.

ADDENDUM. Zoilo de la Cruz, counsel of the Hacienda Malaga Independent Workers Union and NACUSIP national president, described what he called as "theatrics" by members of Task Force Mapalad. De la Cruz, in a full-page ad in local dailies, pointed out that Task Force Mapalad is using the metropolitan-based media to peddle contrived stories and dramatize their contrived scenarios. The recent events in Malaga stemmed from the foiled forced installation of TFM members last Jan. 24 which ended in a shootout between TFM and union members. TFM failed to disclose that they had attempted to secure a medical certificate from the municipal health doctor that its members’ injuries were caused by bullets which was denied because there were no wounds underneath the bloodied bandages they showed the local media and priests, hoping to win these people to their side. That’s the situation as of now.