CEBU, Philippines — The office of the Association of Barangay Councils in Lapu-Lapu City was padlocked by “mysterious person or persons.”
ABC president Eduardo Cuizon, in a press conference yesterday, said that he was surprised to learn that the ABC office was already padlocked by a cable lock last Wednesday.
Aside from Cuizon’s office, the office of the ABC secretariat was also padlocked while the lock of the kitchen’s door was also damaged.
A barangay captain of Bankal, Cuizon is an ally of Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Representative Paz Radaza, the political rival of Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan.
Cuizon is not suspecting anybody but he is asking Mayor Chan and the city police to conduct investigation.
“Lisud na kaayo og mamasangil ta og tawo labi na wala kita’y ebidensiya. Ang kani nga building wala pud CCTV,” said Cuizon.
Chan denied any knowledge about the padlocking incident of the ABC office.
Cuizon said he called up Chan yesterday and asked for a permission to dismantle the cable lock.
“Nisugot ra man pud ang mayor nga akong gub-on ang padlock,” Cuizon said.
The ABC building, which was constructed during the time of Radaza as city mayor, also housed the offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 Pantawid City Link, Sangguniang Kabataan Office and the Local Youth Development Office.
Last month, Cuizon said the power lines of ABC office was also cut-off.
“Gituyo gyud og putol ang linya sa among kuryente. Upat gud mi diri nag-opisina diri, unya kami ra ang giputlan,” Cuizon said.
Cuizon looked at the incident as politically motivated since he has no other business at all.
The main door of the building, Cuizon added showed no sign of forcible entry.
Cuizon said he asked for police assistance to serve as witness as he entered his office after dismantling the cable locks but to no avail.
The police were reportedly busy manning the motorcade routes of the Virgen dela Regla which is the opening salvo of the city’s fiesta comes November 20 and 21. — GMR (FREEMAN)