Anonymous letter stirs City Council
ILOILO CITY-An anonymous letter hurling sweeping accusations against a barangay captain and a policeman became a subject of heated discussion in the Sangguniang Panglungsod Wednesday after it was openly read on the floor.
City Councilor Erlinda Liberiaga stood first and questioned the propriety of reading an anonymous and unverified letter in the session.
She said it could be a bad precedent as anybody could just send a letter to the city council accusing anybody. Liberiaga challenged the letter sender to ome out and stand by his accusations.
Councilor Armand Parcon said it is clear in their internal rules that they are prohibited from acting on unverified letters, complaints and petitions.
The letter bares serious accusations and besmirch the reputation of some public officials.
It was coursed through Councilor Erwin Plagata, chairman of the committee on police matters, however, it was read on the floor by the staff of the secretariat Renato Talacay.
The letter written in Hiligaynon alleged among others that Bakhaw Brgy. Capt. Jorge Duron and SPO4 Fred Belones are in the payroll of the drug lords.
Plagata suggested that a resolution be passed referring the matter to ICPO Director Senior Supt. Norlito Bautista for investigation but was dismissed by his colleagues.
Councilor Perla Zulueta said there is no point in entertaining an anonymous letter especially when it contains 'derogatory matter.'
She also reminded her fellow councilors that the council do not have immunity. The media that covers the event will report whatever is discussed during the session and it will be attributed to them. 'The sender is only hiding in the cloak of anonymity,' she said.
Zulueta added that the least that Plagata could have done with the letter was to confidentially relay it to Bautista.
Councilor Jose Espinosa III downplayed the alleged involvement of Duron in the proliferation of illegal drugs in Brgy. Bakhaw. He said it is hard to believe since Duron himself spearheads the campaign against illegal drugs in his area.
Espinosa even suspects that the letter sender might be a drug lord.