ALICIA town mayor Victoriano “Dong” Torres is facing charges for slapping a resident here.
This came after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee in Good Government received an “Indorsement IC-OV-22-0145 Cebu City dated October 25, 2022 from Dante F. Vargas, Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, pertaining to the complaint of Mr. Romulo M. Basalo Bohol against Hon. Victoriano C. Torres, Municipal Mayor of Alicia, Bohol.”
The incident was contained in the Committee on Good Government and Justice Report No. 2023-03 of the SP chaired by lawyer Board Member Benjie Arcamo. The committee reported its findings and recommendation during the regular session of the SP on November 14, 2023.
The committee said that the issue to be resolved is “whether or not the Respondent (the mayor) is guilty of Grave Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of a Public Official in violating Section 4 par. (c) of R.A. 6713.”
The complainant Romulo M. Basalo alleged that the “Respondent then suddenly slapped the Complainant in the face and the latter was hit causing swelling and tenderness in his left jaw area. A person came in between them and defused and prevented a further untoward incident.”
It was not known what provoked the respondent to slap the complainant.
The report said that the Mayor allegedly “made verbal threats towards the Complainant and even shouted that he would face Complainant if he would file a complaint.”
The incident was recorded at the Alicia Police Station as reported by Rabby Gunaya, a companion of the complainant. It was learned that the said incident “was referred to mediation/conciliation, however, the Respondent did not appear which resulted to the issuance of a Certificate to File Action.”
The committee report said that the respondent denies the allegations against him.
The mayor said “if indeed he slapped the face of the Complainant, why was the incident not reported immediately to the police officers who were present and visible during the event.”
“The Respondent expressed doubt on the intention of the Complainant in filing of the case and asked if it was politically motivated,” the committee report showed.
He also denied as having been in a drinking spree in the middle of the Plaza on December 4, 2021.
He argued that alcoholic drinks were not allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also wondered why the complainant made the medical examination in nearby Candijay town hospital and not in Alicia.
The respondent (mayor) also “denies having received any summons and said that no summons was served in his office nor was there any summons sent to his residential address” when apparently the slapping case was brought to the mediation body.
The SP approved the committee recommendation to further conduct formal hearing for the parties to present their evidence pertaining to the issue whether or not respondent slapped the face of complainant.
And the SP also expanded the committee membership based on Pursuant to Rule 13.6. Section 2 that seven (7) members shall compose the said committee to conduct the administrative disciplinary investigation, whose decision shall be with concurrence of the majority of all the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The new added members are: Board Members Lucille Y. Lagunay, Aldner R. Damalerio, both of first district and BM Vierna Mae F. Boniel of the 2nd District and SP Member Gloria B. Gementiza, Philippine Councilors League Bohol chapter president.
The existing members of the said committee are lawyers BMs Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Jiselle A. Villamor, both of the 2nd district.
Arcamo clarified that “The idea of nominating those names, including the three existing Members of the committee, is to avoid or insulate the committee of any what we call partisan or bias, considering that the parties involve a Mayor against an ordinary employee who hails from the Third District of Bohol.” (rvo)
