THE anti-graft office placed Ermita, Cebu City Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Emok” Rupinta and seven councilors under preventive suspension for six months after they allegedly failed to cooperate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Central Visayas during a drug raid last year.
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente signed the order last Monday, saying the evidence of guilt is strong against the respondents, who are facing administrative cases of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
The suspended councilors are Marky Rizaldy Miral, Antonieto Flores, Ryan Jay Rosas, Alio Tamundo, Domingo Ando, Maria Bianghug and Wilbert Flores.
Clemente, in his order, said the respondents “failed or neglected to detect, investigate, suppress, or act on the illegal drug trade operating within 500 meters from the barangay hall.”
“There is, therefore, a preliminary showing that respondent barangay officials were willfully indifferent to the illegal drug trade operating within their own area of responsibility,” he said.
During the operation last November 6, a PDEA team raided two drug dens near the barangay hall. Two search warrants issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 12 Judge Alma Singco authorized the operation.
One of the operatives, Jose Tomabini Jr., coordinated with the on-duty barangay public safety officer and requested for the barangay captain or any councilor to witness the conduct of the inventory.
Rupinta was informed. Tomabini waited for two hours, but Rupinta or other councilors failed to show up.
Wake-up call
PDEA-Central Visayas Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz welcomed the Ombudsman’s decision, saying it should serve as a “wake-up call” to village officials who are not serious in the drive against drugs.
He denied the filing of charges against the Ermita officials was politically motivated.
“I am not a politician,” said Ruiz, who reminded public officials to be serious in their duties and show concern for their constituents.
A 17-year-old junkie was rescued from one of the drug dens, while 13 others were arrested including alleged drug den operator Richard Cañete.
Seized were around 150 grams of white crystals believed to be shabu worth P800,000 from Cañete, who refused to divulge his supplier. Fourteen illegal gambling machines were also confiscated in the drug den.
Political
When sought for comment, Rupinta said he was surprised that the decision came too early, saying it is one-sided. He said they were not given the opportunity to give their side and answer the allegations against them.
Since he is given 15 days to make an appeal, Rupinta said he will be filing a motion for reconsideration and will emphasize that he was not given the notice to answer when the complaint was filed.
“This is the first time that I heard that a decision of a complaint was released even without letting the respondents respond to it,” he said in Cebuano.
Rupinta said he suspects that someone is behind it, particularly his opponents in politics.
“Now they’re successful in placing all of us under suspension. It’s the only way to remove us from the barangay because whatever they will do, even during elections, they can’t win over us,” he said.
Rupinta is an ally of Team Rama.
He reiterated that the allegation that they did not cooperate with the operatives of PDEA when they conducted an anti-illegal drug operation in his village is not true, since they were just at the barangay hall when it happened.
For his part, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said it’s about time to let the public know their involvement in illegal drugs even before.
Asked about who will take over the management of the barangay, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Central Visayas Director Rene Burdeos said he will first seek the recommendation of their central office.
