Resident raps La Paz barangay councilor
An official in one city barangay faces serious administrative and criminal charges filed before the Office of Mayor Jerry Treñas.
From alleged involvement to illegal gambling activities, scam in the barangay's Clean and Green project and protection to two sons included in the city's "Drug Watchlist," subject of the said complaint is Barangay Caingin Kagawad Teresita Villano.
In a two-page sworn statement and affidavit obtained by The News Today (TNT), city resident Louie Vivar disclosed what he said were his personal knowledge of the alleged illegal activities of said barangay official.
Her liabilities and illegal acts began back in July of 2002, Vivar alleged, when the lady Kagawad reportedly allowed double compensation for sometime when she continued to accept salary as a city street sweeper and barangay official.
Yet when she did resign as street sweeper and accepted only the salary due to a Kagawad, deceit and fraud allegedly followed suit this time in the inclusion of the lady Kagawad's husband Oscar Villano Sr. to the payroll in the barangay's Clean and Green project.
"But the said Oscar Villano never rendered services as street sweeper however during pay days salary appertaining to ghost services is taken by Teresita Villano signing for and in behalf of Oscar Villano," Vivar alleged. As evidence, a copy of the barangay payroll was submitted and formed part of Vivar's official complaint.
Further still, Vivar tagged Kagawad Villano as the "Gambling Queen" in their community "from Posoy, Tong-its, Lucky 9, Tumbo (Cara y Cross), Jueteng (Double), First 2 of Luto [sic] Draws, mahjong and the video carera machine, patronized even by small children and lately prostitution occur in the community."
"That in most cases Tererista Villano has to fetch the mahjong players from their residence to her place of gambling den which is her own house as a barangay Kagawad of Barangay Caingin, La Paz, Iloilo City, there are times that there were five (5) tables of people playing mahjong aside from several tables of card games most especially during birthdays, blow-out and during the time somebody in the family dies, all kinds of games with bets are played for the Honorable Kagawad to make a sizeable "tong" as her means of making money," Vivar added.
More serious accusations as the complainant disclosed and reported to the mayor the April 4, 2006 police operation in Villano's residence that resulted to the arrest of the Kagawad's husband, her daughter Analyn and four others. City cops then filed charges in violation of RA 9278.
Just a day before that, yet another team of operatives raided the Villano house in search of her suspected drug pusher-sons. The two managed to elude authorities though.
Vivar also disclosed of another April incident where Kagawad Villano was reportedly arrested by Lapaz Police Station chief, Senior Inspector Alejandro Apostol. The incident was brought by the supposed attempt of Villano to transport a motorcycle owned by her son Alvin who is subject of police manhunt for drug trade. The subject motorcycle, police were told, has yet to be fully paid with Villano allegedly behind the illegal transport to Metro Manila.
The News Today tried to reach Villano for reaction on Vivar's accusations but the former was unavailable at press time.