Doubts cloud CLO probe of Sonalan

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Doubts on whether the City Legal Office will come up with a credible and convincing result on the alleged mishandling of the pilferage case against former City Treasurer Romeo Manikan is mounting.

City Hall observers raised distrust on the investigation conducted by City Legal Officer, lawyer Edgar Gil against lawyer Reynaldo Sonalan, who prosecuted Manikan and several others in the case for pilferage of electricity from the City's electrical lines.

Sonalan is expected to submit today his reply on the memorandum handed down to him by Gil.

Sonalan kept mum since the issue came out. He could not also be seen at the City Legal Office. It was not known what attributed to his failure to show the evidence before the court. Sonalan acted as private prosecutor in the case for violation of Section 2 (B) of Republic Act 7832 or Anti-Electricity Pilferage Act against Manikan and eight other residents of Barangay Concepcion, City Proper before the sala of Judge Cedrick Ruiz of the Branch 39 of the Iloilo regional trial court.

Manikan along with eight other residents of Barangay Concepcion, City Proper were caught by the Task Force Boltahe having electrical connections in the city's street lights and barangay hall during their August 8, 2001 inspection. The court dismissed the case against Manikan for insufficiency of evidence. The dismissal of the case was attributed to Sonalan's failure to present the evidence before the court. He was given by the court 15 days to present the evidence but to no avail.

Years ago, there was already an apparent attempt to conceal the issue involving Manikan and the Task Force Boltahe. It took some time for city officials to act on the inspection report of the task force. The task force then headed by retired Engr. Dan Caipang rendered a report on the matter. The report remains untouched at the office of former City Engineer Edwin Bravo. It was only in March 2002 when the issue came out.