CEBU, Philippines - Suba, Cebu City Barangay Captain Rogelio “Roger†Resurreccion will be fighting Nanette Garong in two fronts.
Garong said she will definitely file an administrative complaint against Resurreccion but said she is uncertain whether to do it before or after the October 28 barangay elections.
Although Garong has not yet filed her certificate of candidacy, she has already announced her intent to run for Suba barangay captain and collide with Resurreccion’s ally incumbent Barangay Councilor Joel Sable, Sr.
Resurreccion, whose son Niño was arrested by police Monday night for engaging in the illegal numbers game locally called masiao, is running for barangay councilor.
Yesterday, Garong said she does not want politics to color her filing of a complaint against Resurreccion.
“Ako mismo, di ko ganahan masagolan og politika ang (I do not want to involve politics in this) complaint. Pero tinood nga ganahan ko mopasaka (But it is true that I would be filing a complaint) to give justice to what happened,†she said.
She was referring to Resurreccion admitting to knowing about his son’s illegal gambling activities yet failing to rein in Niño, who was arrested in the barangay captain’s home.
She argued that if Resurreccion cannot stop illegal gambling in his own home, he cannot be expected to do so in the barangay.
“Hesitant ko yes, but sa akong kasing-kasing ganahan ko mo-file dayon. Pero mao lagi na naglibog pa ko kung karon ba nga angat eleksyon or inig human na (I am still thinking whether I would file the complaint now or after the elections),†Garong told The Freeman.
Last night, she met with two lawyer friends (whom she requested to be left unnamed) for legal advice.
In a separate interview, Resurreccion said Niño was so “traumatized†by the “harassment,†which he said was primarily directed against him and his political career, that his son is staying away from their house.
“Paggawas niya kay naka bail man mi, mihangyo akong anak nga adto lang usa siya sa balay sa iyang kaila kay na-trauma intawn sa nahitabo. (After he posted bail last Wednesday, my son begged that he would just stay in his friend’s house because he was traumatized by what happened,†the barangay captain said.
“Bisan pa og moingon ta og nakabuhat og dili maayo, mobati biya gyud ang ginikanan para sa iyang anak. Mao mosabot gyud ko niya karon. (Even when we can say he did something that is not good, a parent would always feel for his son. That is why I would let him be),†he added.
He then appealed for his political opponents to spare his family from their smear campaign.
“Kaya ra man nako nga ako ilang dauton. Dili lang unta apilon akong
pamilya nga wala’y labot ba. Nagserbisyo ra man ko sa barangay. (I can handle them attacking me. But I hope they spare my family, who has nothing to do with all these. I am just serving the barangay),†Resurreccion said.
He said that despite what happened, his bid to be elected as barangay councilor was not derailed.
“Nahibaw man na akong mga silingan unsa ko motrabaho. Dili na angay nga ipasabot sa ilaha nga pangdaot ra ning tanan. Kay silingan ra baya mi tanan. Nahibaw na sila unsa ang tinood. (My neighbors know how I work, I do not have to explain to them that these are just meant to pull me down. We are all neighbors, and they know the truth,)†Resurreccion added. (FREEMAN)