MAGALANG, Pampanga – A case of physical injury, slander by deed and malicious mischief was filed in court against a village chief here yesterday.
Trinidad “Toto” Gonzales, past district governor of Kiwanis International and currently a director of the international organization, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), filed the complaint against Santa Cruz Barangay Captain Junnel G. Malonzo and two of his henchmen in connection with an incident Tuesday last week.
Gonzales said Malonzo had “cast dishonor, discredit, and contempt upon him,” not only in the civic organization he represents but most especially in the community. Last week, a confrontation with Malonzo led to the shoving of Gonzales to the ground causing him injury and embarrassment during an argument over the putting up of a “Pabasa“ in Barangay Santa Cruz.
Gonzales, who is also the secretary of “Aguman Biernes,” an informal group composed of friends and relatives who have agreed to put up a Pabasa during the Lenten Season at the residence of group member Luzviminda T. Medina, said the village chief initially agreed to allow the putting up of the Pabasa.
Gonzales said Malonzo was even thankful to him for giving some 350 children in their barangay bed kits which also included school supplies from the Canada based organization SCAW led by its team leader Canadian Chris Hills.
But on Palm Sunday, Malonzo suddenly had a change of heart and instructed Kagawad Dennis Muñoz to put down and destroy the “banderitas (flaglets)” leading to the Pabasa which were put up by Aguman Biernes in observance of the Holy Week.
Gonzales said when he confronted Malonzo, the village chief now surrounded by his kagawads and barangay tanods, shouted invectives at him and pushed him.
But Gonzales said when he confronted the barangay chief again, he shoved him to the ground while his tanods and kagawads identifi ed as Arnel Santos, Allan Quiambao, Julius Basa, Jay Malonzo and a certain Muños began threatening him. Gonzales said he “was left without defense and swallowed all the humiliation the respondents had given him.”
