Town accountant: VM threatened me

CEBU, Philippines - The municipal accountant of Dumanjug town in western Cebu has sought refuge with the police after the town’s vice mayor allegedly threatened him.

Alvin Vivar told the police that Vice Mayor Efren Gica called him over the phone at around 11:36 yesterday morning and threatened to beat him and his father up. Gica also allegedly told him that his house would be strafed.

The vice mayor denied the allegations.

“Igo ra man ko nitawag niya to tell him nga og dili siya mo-process sa sweldo sa SB secretary nga duna na’y order from the CSC, mo-file ko og complaint,” Gica told The Freeman.

“This is another evil plan of (Mayor) Nelson Garcia,” Gica added, but the mayor refused to entertain the allegations.

“Ayaw nalang, pasagdi nalang na siya,” Garcia said.

Garcia was suspended preventively for 60 days following complaints filed by Gica before the Provincial Board for allegedly encroaching on the authority of the vice mayor in appointing the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) secretary.

Garcia, through a memorandum, designated Emmylou Cabonilas to take over, in an acting capacity, the post left by Victor Tan Jr. who resigned last year. Gica, meanwhile, appointed Nerio Aquino to the same position on September 2013.

Gica explained that when he assumed office as acting mayor, Aquino still did not get his salary since September last year.

“Pag acting mayor nako dili man ako mo-sign sa vouchers, ang acting vice mayor man ug ang budget gikan man sa SB,” Gica said.

The acting vice mayor during that time was Councilor Rex Boquecosa, an ally of Garcia.

The Freeman tried to get Vivar’s explanation on the non-processing of Aquino’s salary but he could not be reached for comment.

The case filed by Gica against Garcia is still pending before the PB.

On March 24, the PB approved the recommendation of the committee on complaints and investigation headed by Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy requesting the governor to issue an order preventively suspending Garcia.

Governor Hilario Davide III ordered Garcia’s suspension on April 11 and the same expired on June 11. —(FREEMAN)