Barangay Alasas chairman Alvin Mendozashows documents clearing him of any anomaly. Photo by Joann Manabat
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – All’s well that ends well for a village chief here.
Barangay Alasas chair Alvin Mendoza who earlier faced a triple complaint of grave misconduct, graft and corruption, and violation of the Anti–Red Tape Act for allegedly demanding P200,000 in exchange for a permit for a cell site was cleared of any wrongdoing after the complainants signed an affidavit of desistance.
Complainants Jomar Sister and Jhon Vega of Globe Telecom-EFB Geostrukt Inc. said in their joint affidavit that they were withdrawing their complaint against Mendoza “after a careful evaluation and serious consideration, we hereby declare that the same arose out of pure misunderstanding and misapprehension of facts.”
The sangguniang panlungsod also deemed it no longer necessary to hear the case after the withdrawal of the complaint.
During the SP’s 64th regular session, Vice Mayor Jimmy T. Lazatin deferred the matter indefinitely. A motion for withdrawal in the SP committee on ordinances, legal matters and quasi-judicial functions was also noted.
On Wednesday, Mendoza visited the Punto Central Luzon office bringing with him the documents clearing his name. He said he was a victim of trial by publicity. “Pakirandam ku during that time tambing dana kung hinusga deng tau. Me trial by publicity ku. Eya dinalan prosesu ing pepalub dang complaint,” Mendoza said.
“Tambing deng in-endorse keng DILG province bayu ya man keng lungsod anyapin kinwa ke opinyun ing abogadu ku sabi na eku pa sasagut keng media (They immediately filed it with the DILG province before it was filed in the city that is why I got the opinion of my lawyer who advised me not to talk to media),” he added.
Mendoza said it was clear in his counter–affidavit how it all began when Globe Telecom applied for a permit in January 2019 and why it was no longer pursued by one Christopher Lee because “we are asking for the contract of lease” which was not submitted.
“That is why we were surprised when a complaint was filed against me and I was asking for P200,000 when we never asked for anything except for the contract of lease,” he lamented.
Mendoza said as soon as he was informed of the complaint against him, he told the DILG in the city that he was confident that he can answer it since his conscience is clear. Later, he said, what Sister and Vega gave him was a conformity agreement and not the contract of lease.
He said he has no plan to file a case against Sister and Vega. Globe Telecom said Lee is no longer connected with the company.
As for the Globe Telecom tower, it’s now up to them when to construct their tower, the village chief said.
Mendoza said he went to the Punto CL office to clear his name.
