CEBU, Philippines - The 14 Cebu City officials accused of grave misconduct and abuse of authority before the Office of the President are seeking for the dismissal of the complaint.
City attorney Jerone Castillo said they are filing the motion to dismiss soon on the ground that it is “malicious and misleading.”
“Naa na ang motion to dismiss, padong na mi og send, we’ll give a copy to the media once it is being filed already,” Castillo told The FREEMAN.
Lawyer Reymelio Delute accused Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and City Councilors Nestor Archival Sr., Mary Ann delos Santos, David Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Roberto Cabarrubias, Ma. Nida Cabrera, Gerardo Carillo, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., and Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao of grave misconduct and abuse of authority for granting P20,000 calamity assistance to city officials and employees last December.
The complaint was received by Malacañang on April 24. The respondents have already submitted their counter-affidavit on July 14 after having ordered by Malacañang to answer the complaint.
The city officials said that the complaint was merely a product of the complainant’s “fertile imagination.”
“There is absolutely no truth to the baseless, malicious, and misleading allegations hurled against us; hence, we vehemently and specifically deny them, particularly Paragraphs 6 to 31 of the Complaint-affidavit,” the respondents said.
In his reply to the counter-affidavit, Delute said the city officials “lack discipline” in approving the ordinance providing calamity assistance to officials and employees despite the fact that they have not been victims of calamity.
Delute attached in his reply a copy of Labella’s privilege speech, highlighting the latter’s argument that, “to be affected by the calamity is not manifested only in broken doors, dislodged posts or roofless houses. There are such conditions as anxiety, muscle pains, stomach upset, hunger while joining volunteers, trauma from the earthquake, fear of tsunamis or super typhoons, traumatic stress disorders, sleepless nights.”
In contrast, Delute said it is common knowledge that when a city resident loses his house to a fire, he is only given P5,000 minimum to P10,000 maximum assistance.
“But, a City Hall employee who gets an upset stomach during the calamity, gets P20,000.00?...By giving P20,000.00 to each City Hall employee in contrast, is this not grave abuse?,” he added.
Castillo said that Delute’s reply was baseless.
“Oo, naay reply affidavit, pero gi-base man niya sa katong kay Edgardo (Labella) nga privilege speech, wala man to’y basehanan oy,” Castillo said.— (FREEMAN)