Councilor faces abuse of power raps

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Doroteo Emit, former chairman of Barangay Pooc is facing charges of abuse of power before the Ombudsman-Visayas. 

Barangay resident, Virginia Guzman, filed her complaint at the Ombudsman last July 24 against Emit for allegedly abusing his power of giving fencing permit to a lot owner in the area, closing any access to her adjacent lot and those of her neighbors.

The lot that was fenced was also claimed by other people, and that the case is still being under litigation in court, Guzman alleged.

The Ombudsman however remanded the case to the City Council considering that the case was under the latter's jurisdiction.

Emit, for his part, defended his action by saying that the new lot owner had complied with all the requirements for a fencing permit, such as the land title, tax declaration, sketch plan and tax permit. He said that if he did not issue the permit, the lot owner might sue him as a result.

The councilor further said that, when he inspected the site, he found out that the lot owner gave portion of his lot for other residents of the other lot to pass through. He added that he was following the rules and he will answer the complaint of Guzman against him.

Guzman said the vacant lot was bought by Florito Caballero, brother of City Councilor Danilo Caballero, and that Emit had allegedly hastened the completion of the "illegal construction" of the fence. She said that this issue was raised before Emit was elected councilor in the May 13 election.

In an interview with The Freeman, Councilor Caballero defended his brother saying that the construction will not be done without passing completing documents required from the barangay.

Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, committee on laws chairman, in a separate interview said his committee has already wrote Emit to answer the complaint. A conference of the complaint will be heard and the issue will be handled properly as it involves members of the council, he added. (FREEMAN)