Arrogance of power

THE reported blatant attempt of Asingan acting-Mayor Joshua Viray to hide the evidence of his
highly questionable and irregular interference in the activities of the Sangguniang Kabataan in his town
is contemptible, to say the least.

Such a display of arrogance, while not surprising because it has become the norm for many of
our local elected officials, should not be allowed to pass without any sanction.

But Viray’s case is not uncommon. In fact, mayors are not even coy about “operating” to
manipulate the results of election of presidents of both the barangay and SK federations with vote-
buying to ensure that the winners become part of the majority in their respective local town/city
sanggunian.

We, therefore, salute P/Chief Inspector Demosthenes Magnaan, police chief, for considering to
file a case against the mayor for obstructing justice if he doesn’t surrender his armed bodyguard who
confronted one SK barangay chairman over a failed vote-buying scheme in the election of SK federation
officials. (We can only wonder what the mayor is doing or has done in the case of the election of the Liga
ng Barangay).

Unless checked by the citizenry and media, this display of arrogance of power seen in our towns
and cities today, there will be no end to vote-buying in our barangay and SK elections as well.

VOTE-BUYING IN SK FEDERATION ELECTION

Asingan acting mayor hides bodyguard
ASINGAN—The acting mayor of Asingan, Joshua Viray, is in hot water for allegedly hiding one of his
armed bodyguards who figured in a confrontation with a newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
barangay chairman in the town over a vote-buying issue.
Viray pulled out his bodyguard, who was carrying a handgun, from the confrontation and drove him away
before the police could identify him.
Viray was named acting mayor after Mayor Heide Chua and Vice Mayor Carlos Lorez Jr. were suspended
by the Ombudsman for placing their pictures on the brand new municipal ambulance purchased by the
municipal government. Viray was then a municipal councilor.
P/Chief Inspector Demosthenes P. Magnaan, Asingan police chief, said Viray may be charged with
obstruction of justice if the unidentified man is not surrendered to the police.
The bodyguard, with a handgun tucked on his waist, allegedly angrily confronted John Von Manangan,
21, SK chairman of Barangay Toboy, for allegedly not voting for the acting mayor’s candidate as
president of the SK federation president after reportedly receiving ?5,000 for his vote.
During the lunch break, the bodyguard reportedly approached Manangan and told him that Kagawad
Joselito Viray, brother of the acting mayor, wanted to talk to him.
When Manangan ignored this, the security man told him off, “Ba’t iba ang binoto mo? Pakibalik mo ang
pera.”
Manangan said the money was used to buy votes purportedly to ensure the election of Viray’s
candidate’s as SK municipal federation president, which will qualify him as ex-officio member of the
town’s Sangguniang Bayan.
Police chief Magnaan, who was in the vicinity, accosted the bodyguard, seized the handgun, a Norinco
Cal. 99mm. pistol with an inserted magazine that was loaded with 10 live ammunition.
But before Magnaan could bring the man to the police headquarters, Acting Mayor Viray appeared and
led the unidentified bodyguard away.
”Bigla na lang silang umalis pagka-confiscate ko ng baril ng security man,” said Magnaan.
Magnaan said based on initial information gathered by the Asingan police, the suspect is an ex-soldier
from Tayug.
In his sworn statement to the police, Manangan admitted that ?5,000 was given by the acting mayor to
persuade him into voting his candidate.
Magnaan said the SK municipal federation is reportedly considering filing a complaint of corruption
against Viray.
After the incident, Magnaan wrote to the town’s Human Resources Office to name all security personnel
assigned to Viray and asked Camp Crame to check if the handgun seized from the suspect was licensed.
(Leonardo Micua)