THE City Prosecutor’s Office has directed former Taglimao barangay chairman William Guialani to submit his answer to the rape complaint filed by his former worker from Barangay Lingating, Baungon, Bukidnon. City prosecutor Fidel Macauyag said Guialani was given 10 days from receipt of notice to submit his counter-affidavit. Macauyag has tasked assistant city prosecutor Liezel Ecol to handle the case. He said it was Ecol who sent out the notice that directed Guialani to answer the complaint. Guialani has yet to submit his counter-affidavit at press time. Macauyag said the prosecutor’s office would indict Guialani if its investigation shows that the crime of rape was committed. But he said Guialani has nothing to fear if he is innocent. “As I have been saying, there should be no sacred cow in Cagayan de Oro,” Macauyag said. “Anyone who violates the law will face the consequences. But innocent people, no matter how many complain, need not fear.” Guialani was accused of making sexual advances on a 16-year old teenager who once worked for an eatery the ex-barangay chairman used to own near Liceo de Cagayan University. The abuse was allegedly committed in an apartment on Mulawan St. in Barangay Patag in April 19. Guialani has strongly denied the accusation, and alleged that the complainant had an ax to grind against him because she became jobless when he decided to give up the eatery business. He also alleged that the teenager wanted money from him. Guialani also accused the complainant’s lawyer, Jonathan Pacuribot, of talking the teenager into charging him with rape. He said the original complaint was for acts of lasciviousness but it was changed later. “Act of lasciviousness permero ang kaso, pero sa dihang gitudlo-an na ni Atty. Pacuribot ang maong babayi, nahimo ang rape,” said Guialani, adding he suspected the rape complaint had political undertones. Pacuribot earlier said the original complaint had to be amended after he heard the teenager’s account that Guialani allegedly inserted a finger. Such act, according to Pacuribot, is considered rape based on a law. The former barangay chairman, who became a whistleblower against the then Emano administration in connection with a Carmen market lease contract, has declared he would run for councilor next year. Guialani also became a staunch critic of Mayor Oscar Moreno almost overnight after city hall refused to trash its present Carmen market lease contract with Unitop and award it back to Guialani’s favored firm, New Wishing Star Trading Corp.. –nitz arancon