By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Two Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in Makati City have been suspended after being found guilty of misconduct by the city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced on Monday.
Remulla said complaints will also be filed against the two SK officials before the Office of the Ombudsman, noting with concern that corruption appears to have reached even affluent villages.
In a press briefing, Remulla said the SK chairperson of Barangay Dasmariñas was suspended for six months for allegedly demanding a 20-percent kickback from a supplier for a Halloween project. The official was also accused of submitting an SK resolution bearing the falsified signature of the SK secretary.
Meanwhile, the SK chairperson of Barangay Magallanes was suspended for three months for allegedly submitting documents with forged signatures, including that of an SK kagawad (councilor) who was reportedly abroad at the time. The official admitted the documents were not personally signed but claimed prior consent had been given.
Remulla emphasized that cases will be pursued regardless of a barangay’s status.
“Wala po kaming sinisino. Maliit man o mayaman na barangay (We do not discriminate, whether it is a small or wealthy barangay),” he said.
Viral video
Meanwhile, police on Monday said they have identified the person seen in a viral video stabbing the tires of a pickup truck along Chino Roces Avenue.
In a press briefing, Col. Julius Añonuevo, chief of Taguig City Police Station, said the person has already talked with law enforcers to explain his side.
“According to him, he was just using a key, not a knife or pointed object, to stab the tires of the said vehicle,” he said.
Makati City Police Station chief Col. Pedro Alagano Jr., during the same briefing, clarified that the incident is not a case of robbery or road rage as claimed by some netizens.
“The viral video of this incident is not a case of holdup or road rage. This is just a vehicular accident as the pickup truck collided with a sedan and a motorcycle, and while escaping, hit an SUV along Chino Roces Avenue,” he said.
Police said all the parties involved have already reached an amicable settlement. (PNA)
