Mayor JVR: No Comments Vs Bulacao Captain

Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes this morning gave no comment on the arrest of Bulacao, barangay Captain Raul Cabaniero, saying the case is now up to the court.

De los Reyes at the same time said he entrusted to the the Talisay City council and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) about their proper actions on Cabañiero’s case.

Cabañiero is an ex-officio member of the Talisay City council being the president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC).

He said that he is just observing the reactions of his vice mayor Romeo Villarante, the presiding officer of the city council, who has the right to implement proper sanctions for anybody in the council.

Being the city mayor, De los Reyes said he could not make any move regarding that matter knowing that Cabaniero’s co-legislators will not be tight-lipped on his lapses, but to act based on what the NBI’s findings.

Cabaniero is facing charges in court for his refusal to cooperate with the NBI who conducted a buy bust operation in his barangay Bulacao, Talisay City last Saturday.

He was charged for obstruction of justice, illegal gambling and for violating Article 233 of the Revised Penal Code and posted a total of P16,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

It was learned that aside form these cases in court, the NBI will also be filing charges against Cabañiero at the office of Ombudsman of the Visayas.

“So we will just wait how the concerned barangay captain make a proper defense against himself”, De los Reyes said.

It was learned that during the raid, the NBI arrested 11 persons inside a drug den in Bulacao and when the NBI authorities started looking Cabañiero to witness their inventory of the illegal drugs they have confiscated,the latter only sent words that he was busy.

The NBI high ranking officer ordered his men to track down the barangay captain. The operatives found the local chief just in a nearby store playing mah-jong.

The NBI said Cabañiero’s arrest serves as a lesson to the other government leaders who give priority to ‘illegal vices’ rather than to comply their sacred obligations to the public.