Barili mayor eyes theft case vs. brgy captain

CEBU, Philippines - Barili Mayor Teresito Mariñas is eyeing filing a robbery case against Mantalongon Barangay Captain Norman Anore for allegedly hiding their tourist bus inside a private batching plant in barangay Guibuwangan.

Some parts of the bus are also allegedly missing.

Mariñas, in an interview over Bantay Radyo yesterday, said that accessories of the crime could be Guibuwangan barangay captain Nelson Gingoyon and Pragmatic Development and Construction Corp.

The mayor said as soon as they have gathered all the evidences, they will file the appropriate charges in court and before the Office of the Ombudsman considering that Anore and Gingoyon are public officials.

“Gisabotahe gyud kay may recall order man,” Mariñas said.

Acting Governor Agnes Magpale earlier ordered the recall of the tourist bus which was given by suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to Barili last year as their prize for being an achiever in the eGwen Program.

Instead of Mariñas, Garcia turned over the tourist bus to Anore who heads the Association of Barangay Councils by virtue of a memorandum of agreement.

Mariñas is an ally of Magpale of the Liberal Party while Anore is an ally of Vice Mayor Marlon Garcia, the brother of Gov. Garcia, of One Cebu Party.

Provincial General Services Office head Eva Encabo was accompanied by the Barili chief of police, Insp. Arvi Arbuis and the staff of Mariñas in recovering the vehicle which was brought to the municipal hall.

“Sila mao’y angay ikiha kay private property man to ila gisulod, they don’t have any search warrant, ngano pataka man sila og sulod unya mokuha og property didto,” Marlon said.

Marlon explained that even though the vehicle is still owned by the province, technically it was properly turned over to ABC.  He said Anore earlier told Encabo that he still has to convene the ABC Board to inform them of the recall order of the tourist bus entrusted to them by the suspended governor.

Marlon said that Anore questioned why it was recalled when they did not violate any provision of the agreement.

The vice mayor urged the ABC to file appropriate charges against Magpale, Encabo and the others involved in taking the tourist bus.

Marlon said that Magpale’s arrogance is sending the wrong signal to her leaders in Barili who commit abuses.  He added that the people of Barili will judge them during the May 13, 2013 elections.   (FREEMAN)