BACOLOD City – Councilor Claudio Jesus “Kalaw” Puentevella is facing two criminal charges – direct assault and disturbance of proceedings – for punching a fellow councilor.
The charges were filed by Councilor Dindo Ramos at the City Prosecutor’s Office on Monday.
Ramos said he is also planning to file an administrative complaint against Puentevella before the Office of the Ombudsman.
These charges were in relation to the Sept. 12 “boxing incident” at session hall.
Puentevella punched Ramos on the face while the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was on recess.
Before this, the councilors had engaged in a heated debate regarding an urgent matter the SP has to act on in relation to the city government’s sanitary service contract with the IPM Construction and Development Corp.
The matter was settled as the SP authorized Mayor Evelio Leonardia to sign an agreement for the construction of Cell No. 2 at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa, with Puentevella ordered out of session.
On Sept. 14, Puentevella issued a public apology, saying: “I am not perfect and like many of us, I have my own flaws.”
He added that he “takes full responsibility” over what he did which he “can never be proud of.”
But Ramos said Puentevella has not personally apologized to him.
“As of now, I will have to wait for a copy of the case filed against me. Study-han ko anay then I will prepare my defense,” Puentevella told Panay News./PN
