Nueva Vizcaya town mayor faces bigamy raps

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has approved the filing of bigamy charges against a town mayor in Nueva Vizcaya who allegedly married two women in 1984 and 2000.

The anti-graft agency, in a six-page resolution approved by Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro, said it found probable cause against Bagabag Mayor Nestor Sevillena.

Based on the allegations, Sevillena contracted marriage with one Amy Nadugo on Jan. 30, 1984 and again with a certain Amida Afan on Dec. 26, 2000.

The Office of the Ombudsman rejected Sevillena’s argument that the case against him should be junked since none of his wives, as offended parties, have filed complaints.

It said bigamy is a public offense, which means that any complainant can initiate the case and that it is not limited to the offended parties.

“It is long settled that bigamy is a public offense. Being a public offense, a complaint for the same could be initiated by any other person being an agent of the state,” it added.

Records show that the complainants in the case were two concerned citizens of Nueva Vizcaya, a certain Dionisio Velasco Jr. II and Antonio Naval.