Embroiled ex-councilor ready to face Ombud

By Nitz Arancon,
Correspondent

FORMER city councilor Ramon Tabor is ready to face the Ombudsman and to give his reason why he was absent during the public hearing on the city’s solid waste woes the latter called last week.

Tabor said he did not intentionally snub the Ombudsman’s summon. He said he received the Ombudsman’s notice of hearing only after his scheduled trip to Iloilo City on Oct. 26.

He said he executed a special power of attorney, along with the other former members of the 17th City Council, and that they designated Atty. Andrew Barba as their official representative in the Ombudsman’s public hearing in Davao City.

“Walay problema kanang order sa Ombudsman kon ako na kanang madawat,  ato nang tubagonkay lawful order man kana,” Tabor said.

Tabor, like former vice mayor Caesar Ian Acenas and other members of the 17th city council, have been ordered by the Ombudsman to explain in writing, within five days, on  the reason of their absence during the public hearing.

Tabor said he will include his plane ticket, and receipt of his stay at a hotel in Iloilo in his written explanation to the Ombudsman as proof that he was in Iloilo during the public hearing.

Councilor Leon Gan, for his part, also said he was out of town during the public hearing.

Gan said he was in Manila on Oct. 26 to get the hearing aid of his father.

He claimed his presence was not needed in the Ombudsman’s public hearing because  he was not a city councilor when the Ombudsman ordered the Environmental Management Bureau to shutdown the open dumpsite in Upper Carmen.

However, Gan said he will still submit his written explanation.

As for councilor Alexander Dacer, going to the public hearing in Davao City is just a waste of money.

“Dili na man kinahanglan nga motunga pa ako sa Ombudsman. Gasto-gasto lang ta pag-adto didto nga na-a na may akong Special Power of Attorney,” Dacer said.