Ombudsman orders Unabia: Answer raps

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE Office of the Ombudsman has ordered Rep. Pedro Unabia of Misamis Oriental’s 1st District and at least seven other people to answer accusations of land grabbing and using force to drive a family out of their home in Indahag, this city, the Gold Star Daily learned over the weekend.

The congressman was given 10 days to submit his counter-affidavit from the time he received the order.

Unabia was slapped with criminal and administrative complaints by couple Edward and Raida Lagayon who alleged that the congressman, using force, had caused their 18-hectare property in Indahag to be fenced without a court order.

Their lawyer, Angeline Marie Carrasco, said the forest land where her clients’s family had lived for over 50 years.

Carrasco said the Lagayons already won a case in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and were granted a patent.

But force was used in the attempt at taking the property, and in evicting the family, she said.

In a five-page Sept. 7 order, Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao officer-in-charge Marco Anacleto Buena directed Unabia and other respondents to answer accusations that they violated Articles 282, 286 and 312 of the Revised Penal Code, Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, and RA 7160, otherwise known as the Child Abuse Law.

Administratively, they were accused of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public officials, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, and oppression.

The other respondents are Indahag barangay chairperson Melitona Patriana, barangay councilor Carmelito Damo, Prescillano Reyes, forester Diosdado Pecasales, Liga ng mga Barangay-Gingoog president Robert de Lara, Lakay Opiano, and Alex Raymund.

Buena said the failure of the respondents to submit their counter-affidavit would be seen as a waiver of their right of reply, and that would not prevent the ombudsman office’s investigation based on its rules.

“Our clients are complaining against these public officials who took the law into their own hand,” Carrasco said.

She alleged that an armed group carried out an “unlawful forceful eviction” and “forcibly entered into the property” of the Lagayons “using guns and goons.”

Carrasco said shortcuts were made in driving the Lagayon family out of their home.

“Squatter nga squatter, kinahanglan nimo ipa-evict sa area. You should file a case. Kana na no-on nga nakada-og sila sa DENR sa favorable decision, ilaha na hino-ong abogon ang tawo,” Carrasco said.