ILOILO City – A utility man at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, Branch 7 here denied working as fixer for marriages allegedly solemnized by a dismissed judge.
“The allegation that certain employees of the Iloilo Hall of Justice connived with (dismissed) Judge Ofelia Artuz…regarding marriages…(have) no legal and factual basis, hence fabricated,” stressed Laurence Antiquera.
In Memorandum No. 03-2019 dated Aug. 7, 2019, Acting Executive Judge Anthony D.R. Polonan directed Antiquera to file his comment on the allegation made by a certain Marion Dublan.
Durban, in an unsigned letter-complaint to Mayor Jerry Treñas, claimed that Antiquera and a certain Paolo Palomo, at the Hall of Justice lobby, would offer their services to people wanting to marry in civil rites.
According to Antiquera, he is very much aware of the “marriage bureau” at the Hall of Justice and of the memorandum issued by then Executive Judge Ma. Theresa Gaspar directing employees to refer applicants for civil wedding to the “marriage bureau” at the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Iloilo City.
He had been religiously in complying with this policy, stressed Antiqueña.
“I have not indulged in any illegal activities involving marriages or entered into transactions with any employees of the Iloilo City Hall, especially at the Local Civil Registry,” said Antiquera.
Mayor Treñas recently asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the alleged fake marriages registered in the city.
Antiquera also questioned the credibility of Durban who is currently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology male dormitory in Barangay Ungka, Jaro district for a pending drug case at the Regional Trial Court, Branch 35.
Meanwhile, Romeo Caesar “Juncae” Manikan Jr., the City Civil Registry Office chief, denied the alleged
irregularities in his office, specifically the registration of “fake” marriages.
“The role of the Civil Registry Office is purely ministerial when marriage certificates are presented for registration,” he said.
“Basta ang place of marriage is within Iloilo City kag complete ang (marriage) certificate, register gid ina,” he told Panay News.
As to the solemnization of marriage, Manikan said that is already beyond his office’s mandate./PN
