Town mayor ordered to answer dismissed plaints

By Paulo DS. Papa

PILI Mayor Tom Bongalonta Jr., continues to perform his duty as the town’s local chief executive despite receiving an order from Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Camarines Sur that requires him to send verified answer on several cases filed against him which, according to the mayor, were dismissed already in the court.

It should be recalled that on April 28, this year, the implementation of the five-month suspension order issued to him by the SP has ended however last week, May 4, the SP’s special committee on administrative cases issued a directive that he must submit within 15 days at least 17 copies of his verified answer to the complaints of Punong Barangay Nerio Brazal of Barangay San Juan and Punong Barangay Romeo Plegino of Barangay Sagurong, here.

The complaints were filed in violation of Sec. 4 of RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, violation of Sec. 21 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, Sec. 37 of the Presidential Decree No. 807 or the Civil Service Decree of the Philippines, Art. 153 of the Revised Penal Code, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

PILI Mayor Tom Bongalonta Jr. (rightmost) and salon owner Sharina Bergantin (left) during the opening ceremony of Ynabergs Beauty Salon conducted Monday, May 8. (MIO LGU PILI photo)

In a media interview, Bongalonta said that the charges have something to do with the rallies initiated by him which purportedly caused traffic congestions along the town’s business district. But the case was already dismissed by court due to lack of probable cause. He said, the case was the same case filed by the two Punong Barangays at SP.

“Halataon na man. Tano ta ako sana an pigpaparakasuhan? Porke pirmi akong gana sa eleksyon? Pig elihir ako kan tao tanganing mag protehir asin mag serbi. Oh kamo haen? Patamaon ta an pagserbi” Bongalonta said.

He admitted that filing of administrative cases against him at the SP are easy on the part of the complainants but finding him guilty for such complaints in court is a different story, for reason that it lacks probable cause.

Amid the situation, the mayor assured that he will send the document the SP has required of him within the given period.

“Masubmit kita kan sakuya man na simbag sa mga akusasyon ninda tanganing atleast ma satisfy sinda. Alagad paglaog ta kaiyan nin panlalawigan, mayo iyan. Kun ano an sugo sa sainda kan among ninda masusunod iyan” Bongalonta said.