Barangay exec seeks Trinidad’s disqualification

A Pasay City barangay chairman filed a petition yesterday seeking to have dismissed mayor Wenceslao Trinidad disqualified from running in the local elections this May.

Juanito Delmendo of barangay 177, in his petition filed before the Commission on Elections-National Capital Region, said Trinidad is no longer qualified to run after he was dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman last Jan. 12 in connection with anomalous garbage contracts for 2004 and 2005.

Delmendo said Trinidad’s dismissal carries the penalty of cancellation of eligibility and disqualification to hold any public office in government. The dismissal stemmed from the complaint filed by Delmendo.

Trinidad, former vice mayor Antonino Calixto and eight city councilors were first suspended in September 2006 for entering into questionable garbage deals amounting to more than P464.6 million.

In January 2007, Trinidad and nine others were dismissed from the service. It was learned that there is still a pending criminal case against Trinidad and the other city officials for the same garbage contracts. – Rhodina Villanueva