Photos with another woman: Prov’l agriculturist told to answer issue

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol’s Committee on Discipline and Investigation has invited the provincial agriculturist to appear in its meeting on Wednesday and shed light on the issue hurled against him.

This after the investigating committee received the request for a fact-finding investigation from Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino on the issue involving Roldan Saragena, who heads the Provincial Agriculture Office.

Tolentino, being the nominal complainant, formally sent his letter to the CODI last December 10.

The investigating committee has already directed Tolentino to provide documents or photos to be used as evidence.

“If naa na pud ma-forward diri nga document nga has something to do with the incident, then the CODI can further act on it, and we (will be) further enlightened unsa ning hitaboa,” said lawyer Orvi Ortega, head of CODI.

The respondent will be made to explain the matter as part of the due process, Ortega added.

“Nangayo ta ana (pictures). Ato pud pahibaw-on siya aning mga butanga, unsa pud ang iya itubag (We asked for the photos. We will also inform Saragena about this so he can explain his side),” he said.

Saragena is facing a controversy after his photos with a woman, reportedly not his wife, sitting on his lap, circulated in the social media.

Davide had also directed the CODI to place Saragena under investigation over the issue.

“All public officials duna man ta’y oath. We have to conduct ourselves in public. But, I am not drawing any conclusion here, ato sa ‘na nga paimbestigaran,” Davide said in a previous interview.

Saragena, in a phone interview with the reporters, refused to comment on the issue, saying he would just explain his side before the CODI during the investigation. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga/NSA (FREEMAN)