Kalibo councilor ready to face suspension

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan member Augusto Tolentino is ready to face the decision of Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan after his motion to suppress evidence was denied.

The councilor is facing an administrative complaint for grave misconduct filed by field radio reporter Ma-ann Berdonar Lachica before the Aklan SP.

Tolentino said on Friday he was more ready to face the severe consequences of Aklan SP investigating committee decision. But the legal battle is far from over as Tolentino’s lawyer will file a motion for reconsideration next week to question the latest setback.

From the very start, Tolentino said he might serve the administrative offense of suspension for months without pay due to his stance on the controversial provincial tax ordinance.

“Ready ako masentenciahan mga board members dahil sayod kamo nag kontra sa andang planong taxes. I am ready nga kung ma-suspend ako nanda, batunon ku. Ru saea ku nag kontra ku sa rayang mga bagay,” he also said in his Facebook account.

The case stemmed from the complaint of 25-year old Lachica against Tolentino after he allegedly berated her on the ‘erroneous’ reporting on alleged irregularities in the payroll of workers after the super typhoon Yolanda. 

The incident happened inside the Kalibo SB session hall while Tolentino was talking with radio anchorman Rolly Herrera last September 23, 2014.

Tolentino said the radio reporter recorded his conversation with Herrera which she used as a basis for the administrative complaint filed last October.

Meanwhile, Lachica also is facing a complaint before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 4200 otherwise known as the Anti-Wiretapping law.

The councilor, who is running for re-election in 2016 local election, filed his complaint on July 3, 2015, claiming that his conversation with Herrera of IBC DyRG Radyo Budyong Kalibo was private in nature and was recorded by Lachica without his knowledge, in violation of the Anti-Wire Tapping Act. 

The law prohibits the recording of any private communications or spoken word without the consent of all parties involved. If found guilty, the accused  is sentenced to a prison term of not less than six months and not more than six years.