By Felipe V. Celino
ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The village chief of Brgy. Inzo Arnaldo here is facing a 6-month suspension for sneaking out a constituent from a quarantine facility without permission from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) last year.
Punong Barangay Einstein Okpora of. Inzo Arnaldo, Roxas City was found guilty by the Sangguniang Panlungsod for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty for lying about the case of a locally stranded individual who was confined to the Congressman Ramon A. Arnaldo High School in Brgy. Banica here in October 2020.
A heated debate occurred at the SP as councilors deliberated on the decision of City Councilor Gregory Potato, chair of the committee on good governance, to suspend Okpora for six months.
The heated exchange of words started when Councilor Jericho Angel Celino asked if the 6-month suspension is final.
Councilor Paul Ivan Baticados replied that the village chief was given ample time to reply to the accusation but the latter failed to do so.
Baticados said witnesses refuted Okpora’s claim that he coordinated in retrieving the LSI from the quarantine facility.
Even the police officers who secured the quarantine facility said the village chief did not inform them of his actions.
The city council finally passed a resolution meting the suspension on Okpora. The Office of the City Mayor will impose the penalty.
Okpora was also suspended for two months in April last year for misusing Sangguniang Kabataan funds of their barangay.
He denied the accusations saying he was not afforded due process.
