Counter Charges between Mangaldan Mayor and Kap Continue

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

MANGALDAN – The filing and counter filing of criminal cases between the mayor of this first class town and the chief of one of the villages here remain unabated.

Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno

Mayor Bona Fe D. Parayno has filed lately another usurpation of official function case against
Poblacion Barangay Chairman Joselito G. Quinto after the latter sued her and the chief of police here.
Mayor Parayno argued on her complaint-affidavit filed at the provincial prosecution office in Dagupan City that Quinto usurped the function of a village chief despite being meted by the mayor of the 60 days preventive suspension.
She filed the complaint last December 22, 2014.
The mayor explained that the liability of Quinto was when he issued two barangay business clearances to Donna Mercado Lelina and Liberata G. Cayabyab in December 1 and 8, 2014 and a barangay clearance to Danilo de Ocampo Villanueva.
Parayno said in the three instances Quinto signed his name and title as the village chief of Poblacion in patent violation of his 60 days suspension that commenced in October 16, 2014 and would end in December 16, 2013.

Barangay Chairman Jojo Quinto

“That Punong Barangay Quinto blatantly admitted in his verified Affidavit-Complaint dated December 11, 2014 that they have been preventively suspended from October 16, 2014 to December 16, 2014, a copy of which is hereto attached as Annex “D” and made an integral part hereof. That I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing statements based on my knowledge and authentic records and to file a case for usurpation of authority against Punong Barangay Joselito G. Quinto,” Parayno wrote on her complaint.
Prior to the criminal charges against Quinto and number one village council member Melinda P. Morillo of the same barangay, the duo sued Parayno and this town’s chief of police Superintendent Jackie Candelario at the Ombudsman last December 11 with grave misconduct in the performance of their respective duties, oppression, perjury, unlawful arrest, unlawful detention, grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.
The charges from the elective officials of Barangay Poblacon ensued after Parayno ordered Candelario to arrest the duo when they reported at the barangay hall in December 3 last year in patent violation of the 60 days preventive suspension that should end on December 16.

“That while we were under arrest, our counsel Atty. Joseph Emmanuel B. Cera has sent letters addressed to respondents Bona Fe de Vera Parayno (Annex “I”) and P/Supt. Jackie Candelario (Annex “J”) informing them that the on-going investigation being conducted by the Sangguniang Bayan of Mangaldan, Pangasinan, has been terminated. In effect, the preventive suspension against us has now become moot and academic,” Quinto and Morillo argued on their complaint affidavits.
Prior to the December  11 charges against the mayor, the duo had charged Parayno with administrative and criminal cases at the Ombudsman while the mayor sued them with illegal exaction after they accepted fees in their issuance of barangay business permits to traders that Parayno said only the office of the mayor could do.