Gumabong's words vs Treñas', Umahag's
It is the words of alleged extortionist Ricardo Gumabong against Mayor Jerry Treñas and Engr. Marcelino Umahag over the electrical wire pilferage involving employees of the City Engineer's Office (CEO).
Gumabong earlier alleged that it is the personnel of the CEO who steal electrical wires connecting the streetlights to the lamppost of the Panay Electric Company Inc. (Peco). The employees allegedly sold the wires to the different junk shops in the city.
Last year, several cases of stolen electrical wires were reported to different police precincts. So far, none of the suspects was apprehended by the police.
The police said the thieves wait when the streetlights are put off before they strike. Electric current runs in the wires when the streetlights are still lighted.
Gumabong claimed it is not the residents of the nearby barangays which are involved in the thievery of electrical wires but the employees of the CEO themselves.
He said the practice has long been taking place at the CEO. The stolen electrical lines were kept at the back portion of the CEO office in Fort San Pedro.
Gumabong added that this illegal practice remain unstopped because officials of the department get their shares from the wires sold.
Treñas, however, junked Gumabong's allegations. He said Gumabong's allegations are "far-fetched."
The mayor even challenged Gumabong to substantiate all his allegations against all the issues he raised.
He said Gumabong should first answer all the accusations against him instead of hurling different issues to his department heads.
The chief executive who was irritated with the accusations of Gumabong said he will not tolerate any wrong doing of his employees. He stressed that what happened to Gumabong should serve as a lesson to all City Hall employees.
Meanwhile, Umahag belied Gumabong's allegations regarding the stealing of electric wires and lamps by CEO personnel.
He said Gumabong's allegations are all products of his wild imagination.
Umahag said all the electrical wires and lamps bought by the city are kept in the storage room of the CEO.
He added, the electrical division has records of inventory of all the materials purchased by the city and those that were already used.