Politics blamed for snag in fire aftermath efforts

CEBU, Philippines — It’s been three days since a fire left 797 people homeless in Mambaling, Cebu City but the barangay’s council has not declared a state of calamity to utilize the barangay’s disaster funds.

Acting barangay captain Anne Marie Vestil Palomo blames politics as the reason.

She told The Freeman that four councilmen allied with suspended barangay captain Gines Abellana have reportedly stopped attending council sessions since January 2019.

Without the four, a quorum could not be achieved and the council could not declare a state of calamity.

“I cannot get a quorum. Since January 11 session that I presided, ni-absent ang four councilors. Adto sila ni-attend sa suspended barangay captain nga si Abellana. Grabe ka paugat,” Palomo said.

The four are Wilfredo Go, Owen Atiilo, Roseller Salvador, and Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Sharmaine Maloloy-on.

Only three councilmen are Palomo’s allies, including Edwil Managbanag, Victoriano Laborte and Neonita Cuestas.

It was Palomo, Managbanag, Laborte and Cuestas who field the administrative complaint against Abellana over the latter’s alleged failure to release the honoraria of four councilmen from July to December last year.

Last January 8, the City Council suspended Abellana.

Despite the suspension order, however, Abellana refused to step down from his post and continues to function as barangay captain.

Palomo called on the city government to intervene.

“Failure of the Sangguniang Barangay to successfully convene for lack of quorum due to consistent absenteeism of four barangay councilors resulting to non-declaration of state of calamity and impossibility for the release of the quick response calamity fund of the barangay needing resolution from council,” Palomo said.

Mambaling has calamity funds amounting to P527,000.

“I am asking the Cebu City government to expediently do something on the defiance of the suspended barangay captain Abellana to step down and serve his sanction,” Palomo said.

She said she will file charges against Abellana for usurpation of authority, graft and corrupt, and against the four councilors for dereliction of duty, serious misconduct, and violation of the anti-graft law.

Sought for comment, Councilor Sisinio Andales told The Freeman the matter is now beyond the City Council’s jurisdiction.

“It's outside the jurisdiction of the Cebu City Council considering that Capt. Abellana filed a timely appeal to the office of the President. The agencies of the Cebu City government do not recognize the signature of Capt. Abellana but that of Capt. Vestil. DILG may take cognizance of this unusual situation for the sake of public service,” Andales said.

Andales was a member of the committee of three that suspended Abellana.

In the meantime, Palomo is asking the city to release the P20,000 financial assistance for each family. She is also calling on the public for assistance and donations. The survivors are staying temporarily at the gymnasium in Puntod.

The city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has provided packed meals to the survivors for three days.

The fire last Friday destroyed 81 houses of 150 families. (FREEMAN)