Residents claim they were forced to sign letter vs Tapaz mayor, police chief
TAPAZ, Capiz – Some of the signatories of a letter accusing Tapaz Mayor Rosemarie Gardose and the town's police chief of abuse of power claimed that they were made to sign the letter unaware of its contents.
Gardose said that the residents, including some barangay officials, denied having read the letter before signing it.
One of the signatories Maria Fee Ganit told The News Today that she was washing clothes when Poblacion Barangay Secretary Lorenzo Heraldino allegedly forced her to sign the letter.
The same experience was shared by other signatories Rosevilla Fantilon, Madeline Griño, Barangay Kagawads Roger Sola, Tomas Encarna, and Sotico Guyot among others.
The controversial letter addressed to Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other provincial officials of Capiz allege that Mayor Gardose and Tapaz PNP chief Insp. Diomedes Cuadra have committed abuses in their town.
They accused the two of conniving in perpetrating numerous unsolved killings in Tapaz, unduly and maliciously imputing crimes against Poblacion barangay captain, and killings inside the police station among others.
It also accused Gardose of having 10 heavily armed bodyguards.
The letter was read by Board Member Rommel Lastimoso, chair of committee on peace and order and police matters, in last week's regular session.
Gardose vehemently denied the allegations contained in the letter.
"The people can attest to my good governance, since I serve this town with sincerity and utmost dedication," she said.
She added that all the allegations in the letter are baseless and that they are contemplating to make those behind the letter responsible for their actions.
To recall Gardose's husband, a mayoralty candidate in the 2007 polls, was killed along with two others days before the election. She then took over the candidacy of her husband eventually winning against her opponent.