DILG to file raps vs. barangay officials allegedly involved in Tondo street boxing

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will file cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against barangay officials who were allegedly involved in an illegal street boxing event in Gagalangin, Tondo, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Saturday.

“Magpa-file din po kami sa Office of the Ombudsman ng mga kaso laban sa kapitan. Lumalabas po sa imbestigasyon namin na mayroong kinalaman din po 'yung mga barangay officials sa nangyaring pa-boxing,” Malaya said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We will file cases against the barangay captain before the Office of the Ombudsman. The initial investigation showed that barangay officials were allegedly involved in the said street boxing event.)

The DILG official said the barangay officials may face stiffer charges as the initial investigation indicated that they are directly involved in arranging the event.

“Katulad dito sa Tondo, lumalabas sa report ng ating kapulisan na kasama sila sa, I would say, nag-organize. May kinalaman sila sa organization ng pa-boxing na ito. So, ang kaso niyan mas mabigat kaysa doon sa tinolerate lang or naging pabaya,” he said.

(With regard to the case in Tondo, the report of the police showed that they were part of the organizers. The charges for that is heavier than the charges against those who only tolerated the event or neglected their duty.)

“Kasi kung tinolerate lang at naging pabaya, puwede 'yan sa dereliction of duty. Pero kung kasama ka mismo sa nag-organisa at with his full knowledge, mas mabigat po ang kaso ng DILG sa kanya sa Office of the Ombudsman,” he added

(Tolerating and neglecting your duty fall under the case of dereliction of duty. But if you are involved in organizing the event and with full knowledge about it, then the case that the DILG will file against you before the Ombudsman will be stiffer.)

Apart from the administrative cases that may cause the barangay officials’ suspension or removal from office, Malaya said criminal charges may also be filed against them.

But for now, he said the DILG has yet to determine the charges to be filed as they are still waiting for the results of the investigation.

On Wednesday, the Manila Police District had already filed charges against Barangay 181 and 182 chairmen Pacifico Geronimo and Jaime Lorente, respectively, over the said boxing event. These barangays cover the area where the boxing occurred.

Barangay 182 kagawad Arnel Saens, his son Vincent, and Laurence Bindoy, the spouse of a barangay secretary, were also included in those facing charges.

Aside from barangay officials, the two participants in the boxing match, as well as their parents, were charged for violating City Ordinance 8243.

Meanwhile, the audience of the illegal boxing match were charged for violating public health protocols. —KG, GMA News