BACOLOD City – A council member in this city and a job order casual employee will have a closed-door meeting this morning with Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez following an alleged threat incident at the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO).
Abner Salvallon, a building guard at BTAO, filed a criminal complaint against Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on traffic and transportation.
Salvallon claimed to have been threatened during a confrontation with Espino on Oct. 18.
He also plans filing an administrative complaint at the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“After the closed-door meeting and after the investigation, I will announce the result,” Benitez said.
He ordered the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) under director Colonel Noel Aliño to conduct an impartial investigation.
“Kon sin-o ang maigo, sorry na lang.That is how it will be, wala sacred cows,” said Benitez.
Espino has denied Salvallon’s claims.
“If I threatened Salvallon with a gun, why did Liba [Major Junji Liba, head of BTAO], who is a police officer, not arrest me?” the councilor said.
Espino said he went to BTAO to clarify the apprehension of two students for not wearing helmets onboard a motorcycle.
“My legal team is here. We are exploring all legal measures because my reputation has already been besmirched,” said Espino.
Last week, the SP passed a resolution creating an investigative body to probe alleged corrupt practices in BTAO.
Among the common allegations raised against BTAO were the release of impounded motor vehicles despite being beyond the 3 p.m. cut-off time, or when the assigned cashier from the City Treasurer’s Office reports back to the Bacolod City Government Center./PN