Prosecutor files perjury cases against Amante’s accusers

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

BUTUAN City–The city prosecutor’s office yesterday filed filed 86 counts of perjury and unjust vexation cases against 43 barangay chairpersons here who accused Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr. of graft.

Prosecutor Aljay Go filed the cases before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities here after acting city assistant prosecutor Romeo Julius Bomediano released a nine-page resolution in favor of the complaint filed by Amante.

Bomediano  said the accusations were made against Amante without sufficient evidence.

Amante’s lawyer Froilan Montero said the cases against the barangay chairpersons–two cases each–were received by court yesterday afternoon.

Montero said the accusations made by the barangay chairpersons were politically motivated. He said Amante’s accusers were known supporters of the mayor’s political enemies.

Montero said Go recommended a P6-thousand bailbond for each of the 43 barangay chairpersons.

In November 2015, the barangay chairpersons accused the mayor and members of city hall’s bids and awards committee, and the design and build committee of  committing graft, grave misconduct, and gross neglect in connection with the P193-million Butuan City Polysports Complex project.

Amante and the other officials strongly denied any wrongdoing.

In February, Amante filed perjury and unjust vexation complaints against the barangay chairpersons, accuding them of giving false testimony, and making malicious and untruthful accusations under oath.