CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – A barangay chairman here has been denounced by two workers of Globe Telecom for allegedly asking P200,000 in exchange of a permit for a cell site.
A triple complaint of grave misconduct, graft and corruption, and violation of the Anti–Red Tape Act was lodged against Barangay Alasas chairman Alvin Mendoza by Jomar Sister and Jhon Vega of Globe Telecom-EFB Geostrukt Inc.
In their joint complaint-affidavit dated Aug. 6, 2020, Sister and Vega said they were tasked to put up a cell site in Barangay Alasas and have applied for a permit “since November 2019.”
On July 17, 2020 at 9:25 a.m. they said they had a meeting with Mendoza on their requested permit.
“To our surprise, barangay captain Mendoza asked for P200,000 in exchange for the release of barangay permit,” they claimed in their affidavit.
They said that they explained to the barangay chairman that Globe only donates goods as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“Barangay captain Mendoza insisted on his demand and disclosed to us that it is the same amount given by Ditto Telco,” they said. “He also assured us that the P200,000 will be used for barangay projects and in case there will be opposition to the project.”
Sister and Vega said that they were frustrated over the “unreasonable and unconscionable” demand of Mendoza.
“Well aware of the anti–red tape authority issued to expedite telecom projects,” the two said they decided to inform the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the city of what they called as Mendoza’s “illegal acts.”
Sister also wrote a separate letter to Mayor Edwin Santiago requesting assistance over their application “being delayed by the request of the barangay captain, asking 200K donations to all his Councils (sic) for the barangay permits prior to its (sic) release.”
Santiago on August 12 endorsed to DILG Pampanga provincial director Myrvi Apostol-Fabia “for appropriate action and disposition” the complaint-affidavit against Mendoza.
Punto! is open to any reaction from the barangay chairman in recognition of his right of reply.
