DILG-8 head directive: Probe brgy head’s “denying access” of people to facilities

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — DILG-8 regional director Pedro Noval has ordered his officer in this city to investigate the alleged acts of some barangay chairpersons in “arbitrarily denying private citizens access of barangay facilities, buildings and other public structures.”

Noval, in his memo dated April 1, directed Cedric Chan of DILG-Baybay City to look into the matter and advise all concerned barangay officials about the constitutionally-guaranteed right of the people to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances in places of public ownership,…”

He ordered the probe “in the interest of public accountability and good governance” and required Chan to submit a compliance report after 15 days from receipt of the order.

The action of the DILG-8 head came after receiving reports of several incidents where village chiefs, openly allied with incumbent Mayor Carmen Cari, had been denying the opposition party headed by mayoralty candidate Marilou “Malot” Galenzoga to use public facilities for the latter’s political campaign sorties.

Galenzoga filed a complaint to the DILG saying that, despite her effort to follow the regulations and payment of rent for the use of venue, some barangay officials have allegedly gone to the extent of padlocking the gym to stop her Team Malot personnel from using it for a scheduled meeting with her supporters there.

Galenzoga cited an incident in Brgy. Pomponan where Chairperson Dayang Martinez allegedly tried to lock the gym’s entrance and stop Team Malot’s men from bringing in their equipment for the slated forum with the residents, for the purported reason that Mayor Cari was using the venue for another event that same night.

Both the Galenzoga and Cari camps were granted permits by the barangay for their respective activities but Team Malot showed a receipt for the venue rent paid on March 4, much ahead of the Cari payment on March 14. However, Martinez insisted that she has the authority over the gym, thus she had the final decision on who will she allow to use it, and that considering that Cari is the mayor, then she has the power to use it more than the others.

In another incident in Brgy. Bitanhuan, Team Malot was also slated to use the covered court for another gathering but, in time for the event, the venue was padlocked, barring her personnel from entering. Shortly after, burst of gunfire from somewhere broke out resulting in a tensed situation that night.

Although it was not yet established on who was the perpertrator, members of Team Malot declared that it was somebody who wanted to scare them off and stop the holding of the forum with the residents who were opposed to the administration. (FREEMAN)