Blue Ribbon rejects calls to investigate Bacal

July 19, 2008

blue ribbon rejects calls to investigate Bacal

By Lizanilla J. Amarga

The City Council’s Blue Ribbon Committee will not be conducting any investigation on its own member City Councilor Alden Bacal who drove a vehicle that killed 15-year old Junrie Balingit and left the teenager to die on a road at Upper Dagong this city last week.

Blue Ribbon Committee vice-chairperson City Councilor Adrian Barba said his committee only has jurisdiction over barangay elected officials but not city elected officials as provided by the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160.

Besides, he pointed out that Bacal already admitted that he was the one who drove the vehicle and was responsibility for the death of the young Balingit.

“Wala nay angay imbestigahon pa kay gi-angkon naman niya ug wala man kadto niya gituyo kay isa kadto ka vehicular accident (There is no need to conduct any investigation as Bacal already admitted his responsibility and it was not something intentionally done as the whole incident is a mere vehicular accident),” he said.

He added that he could not really say for sure whether the City Council’s Committee on Ethics would also tackle the incident as he is not a member of the committee.

Barba issued the statement after reports came out that the administration aligned city councilors prevented opposition City Councilor Roger Abaday from issuing a special report calling for an investigation against Bacal for the vehicular incident last Thursday, July 10.

Abaday wanted an investigation on Bacal and the circumstances surrounding the death of the young Balingit.

Atty. James Judith said Abaday should also ask the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) why it has failed to initiate any case against Bacal after the City Councilor himself voluntarily reported that he was responsible for the death of Junrie Balingit.

He said Cocpo should also explain why it has supposedly released Bacal from the Maharlika Headquarters claiming that an arbitrary detention case would be filed against them by Bacal who surrendered himself voluntarily to the police authorities themselves.

“Cocpo should also tell us how long does it take for our police to investigate and file a case against someone who already admitted he is responsible for killing someone,” he said.

City Councilor Dante Pajo said he would have wanted Abaday to render his special report but that the latter only raised his hands when it was already time for them to adjourn their regular session that Monday.

“But if he (Abaday) still wants to make a special report, he has to have it calendared for the next session,” he said.

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Written by admin · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro