ILOILO City – Barangay captains are community leaders so they should set good examples for their constituents, according to Mayor Jerry Treñas.
The village chief of Caingin in La Paz district was arrested for alleged violation of Republic Act 7832 (Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Pilferage Act of 1994).
Treñas said he would discuss the matter with the presidents of district associations of barangay captains here.
Punong Barangay Rene Firmeza was nabbed Tuesday by officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Iloilo by virtue of an arrest warrant.
It was Sept. 7, 2020 when the city’s power distributor discovered Firmeza’s alleged illegal electrical connection, and on Oct. 14, 2020, a case was filed against him.
He was detained at the CIDG headquarters in Mandurriao district. He also had to shell out P72,000 for his temporary liberty.
On September 2020, Punong Barangay Eleodoro Ledesma of Arguelles, Jaro was caught for allegedy allowing a resident to tap to the line of the power distributor.
In October 2020, Rex Jalbuena, captain of Barangay Democracia, Jaro, was caught for allegedly tapping at the post near his house, while just this March 2021, Punong Barangay Maricon Sumpio of Alalasan, Lapuz was netted for alleged illegal connection.
Ex-officio member and Liga ng mga Barangay federation president Irene Ong expressed disappointment.
“Waay ko kabalo ano ang ara sa ulo nila nga-a amo na. Tani sample na ni sa ila…tadlungon na ni nila ila gina obra. Kon luyag nila ya nga mapriso, waay ta mahimo,” said Ong.
Ong added: “Kalaw-ay gid…sundon na karon sang pumoluyo mo. Tama gid ka sala ini nga butang. So ginapanawagan ko sa mga upod ko nga kapitan nga tani sulod niyo sa ulo niyo nga indi gid maayo ang amo ni nga practice.”/PN
