The Board of Directors of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District is considering filing a complaint against the interim manager appointed by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for alleged forcible entry.

According to the board, the alleged bodyguards of interim manager Fermin Jarales forced their way in, broke the glass door, and took several documents, which triggered tension in the building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

The incident happened a few days after a local court ordered the LWUA and its appointed interim officials to stop intervening in the management of the water utility firm.

“We are contemplating of filing robbery and, of course, contempt of court kay duna namay order ang hukmanan Lunes pa lang nga cease and desist unya wala man nila gituman,” COWD Board of Directors Chairman, Gerry Caño, said.

Jarales earlier denied he ransacked the COWD office and claimed that the general manager, Engr. Edna Najeal, and the latter’s group, were the ones who allegedly entered his office forcibly on April 15 and took some documents that are important to the company.

“There are too many anomalous actions, which Najeal and company are deathly afraid of, including questionable transactions which have been uncovered by the interim management, thus they are exerting force to secure themselves,” Jarales said.

Jarales maintained that the decision of the court directing the LWUA to cease and desist from taking over the COWD is not yet final and executory.

COWD officials added that they may also file charges against some police officers who responded during the incident for allegedly failing to enforce the law.

“Mao man to nanguha sila ug mga dokumento ug gihayaan ra sab sa atong mga kapulisan nga madala. Nagduda kita nga kato gisabot gi-imbitar ni IGM Jarales kay naa man CCTV footage nga atong nakita nag nag-convoy pa sila,” Caño said.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to Jarales and police officers involved for comment.