SK prexy slams guv's sons for 'swift injustice' on uncle-cop
Sangguniang Panlalawigan ex-officio member Guisseppe
Karl Gumban delivers a privilege speech in yesterday'
regular sesssion.
Hell hath no fury of a young man scorned.
If yesterday's 'performance' of Ex-Officio Board Member Guisseppe Karl Gumban is to be considered, the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) is up for more fiery speeches.
Opening the regular session, Gumban, provincial president of the Sanggunian Kabataan (SK), delivered a privilege speech lambasting no less than the 'power' brothers, Fifth District Congressman Niel Tupas Jr. and Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas. In 'supporting role' was Superintendent Ricardo Dela Paz, acting Provincial Director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) who according to Gumban, should be declared "persona non grata."
Wasting no words and time, Gumban explained that he was delivering his speech "not only as representative of the youth in the Province of Iloilo but likewise as an aggrieved family member."
"Young as I am, in age and experience, I am not totally ignorant of the power struggles that happen in everyday politics," he began."This early in my term, I am forced to face a serious issue."
Gumban then went ahead to narrate what he said were "deplorable acts of persecution" towards an uncle Police Officer (PO) 3 Rodolfo Gumban.The incident, he continued, was an offshoot of the recent SK elections following a complaint made by his cousin, SK president in the town of San Rafael, Iloilo.
"He disclosed to me that on November 3, 2007,the Honorable Mayor Raul Tupas, called up his brother, Mr. Antonio Gumban of San Rafael asking both of them to proceed as per instruction of Congressman Niel "JunJun" Tupas to their residence in Barotac Viejo," he said."Right there and then and without preamble, they were told to support politically the Tupas family, otherwise PO3 Rodolfo Gumban will be transferred out of his present assignment and native town of San Rafael."
The request was purportedly not heeded reason why PO3 Gumban was indeed reassigned.
'I am disgusted by this turn of events. In my young mind, this is plain and simple blackmail! The Tupas family has tried to coerce my cousin's family into voting for my opponent. When my cousin SKMF Rudolf voted for me, his father PO3 Rodolfo Gumban was transferred to Miag-ao. This special order for the transfer of my uncle happened without the express knowledge of the local chief executive of San Rafael, Hon. Mayor Roel Balleza. It was concocted in total disregard of PNP protocols and at the very least, made mockery of pertinent laws of the land particularly RA 8551…"
Worse, Gumban decried, his uncle spent the holidays away from the family – a first that they blamed on the Tupases.
Gumban sought the SP body's support to investigate what he said was "blatant blackmail of the right to vote of our youth leaders." Another request was also made for the return of PO3 Gumban to his original assignment.