Argument in hotel leads to cases vs. new chief
Mabolo Barangay Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid charged with conduct unbecoming of a public officer, among others Last June 19, Mabatid was with a male companion, who was caught on CCTV striking the hotel security guard and duty manager Mabatid denies any w
Less than a month into her term, Barangay Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid of Mabolo, Cebu City is facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The management of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, along with three of its employees, filed complaints for grave misconduct, among others, against Mabatid. Last June 19, she allegedly shouted at hotel staff while her companion Ramon Floresta punched a hotel employee’s cheek.
Mabatid said she did not commit any crime and suspected that a video clip of the confrontation was being circulated to damage her chances in the Association of Barangay Councils election next week.
Mabolo Barangay Captain Prisca Niña Mabatid is under fire following a heated exchange involving her and a male companion in a hotel last June 19.
Complaints for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, and conduct prejudicial to the public service in relation to Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas by the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Irene Juliet Lacerna, Welbert Pepito and Edwin Acuyan against Mabatid last June 21.
In his judicial affidavit, Pepito said he was the guard-on-duty stationed in the guests’ elevator landing near the main lobby at the time of the incident.
“Around 4:50 in the morning of 19 June 2018, while I was by the guests’ elevator landing near the lobby, I noticed two individuals who entered the hotel. They entered the lobby through its main entrance. They were holding each other, walking unsteadily, swaying and with much difficulty. They appeared to be drunk. They proceeded to the guests’ elevator landing,” reads a portion of the affidavit.
“Verbal assault”
Pepito said he approached the two and asked them if they were registered guests, as part of their hotel protocol.
The encounter, though, did not end amicably as the woman, identified as Mabatid, allegedly started lashing out at the security guard.
“I was surprised when the woman suddenly started shouting. I tried to reason with her that I was just doing my job. I calmly told her if they have not yet registered as guests they could approach the front desk to do the same,” Pepito said.
Mabatid allegedly ignored Pepito’s explanation, got angrier and shouted insults against the hotel staff.
She reportedly started persistently asking if Pepito knew her, and that she was Niña Mabatid, barangay captain of Mabolo.
Despite this, Pepito said he politely asked Mabatid for her room number so that he could verify it with the front desk.
Her male companion, Ramon Floresta, was reportedly quiet the whole time until he threw a punch at Pepito’s right cheek when the latter was about to write the room number Mabatid mentioned.
Floresta also allegedly kicked the hotel staff in his stomach, while Mabatid reportedly continued “shouting vindictive and demeaning” words at him.
Lacerna, the hotel’s duty manager, went to the area to check the commotion.
Officially out of BOPK
Mabatid was still allegedly shouting, “Don’t you know me? I am Niña Mabatid. I have a corporate account here.”
When the commotion began to gather a crowd, the two left the scene. It was later learned that Floresta was the registered guest.
A three-minute closed-circuit television footage showing the confrontation has been circulating online.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña was one of many who reacted to the video.
“As if her shenanigans with the ABC (Association of Barangay Councils) didn’t put her halfway out the door already. Captain or not, Niña Mabatid is now officially kicked out of BOPK (Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan),” Osmeña said in a Facebook post dated July 9.
Last month, the mayor alienated Mabatid from the BOPK after the latter admitted that she had been asked by the Office of the President to run for ABC head.
BOPK’s candidate is Kasambagan Barangay Captain Franklyn Ong, while the opposition wants Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra to keep his post as ABC president.
Mabatid, though, did not confirm nor deny the allegation.
Mabatid’s defense
“I have not committed any crime, nor have I done anything wrong. Ang ako lang gyud, I was just protecting myself as it is my right as a customer because we were not treated right. I am a very polite and patient person as far as I am concerned. Taw ra ta nga naa say kasuko, pero normal ra man siguro na nga mureact ta. But as long as wa ko nagpabadlong, nga nigawas ko as disrespectful to anyone, then that is a different thing,” she told reporters.
The village chief suspects that the allegation and circulation of the video clip were “politically motivated” because she was endorsed by the Office of the President to run for president in the ABC elections next week.
“I have not decided yet if I will run, but this is all part of a move to discourage me from running. As a public servant, I am aware of my behavior,” Mabatid added.
According to the police blotter of the Mabolo Police Station, Mabatid and Floresta were approached by the security guard to check if they were registered guests.
Mabatid got angry and while listening to her, Floresta struck the guard in the right side of his face and body. He also kicked the guard, the police report stated.
The duty manager arrived and Floresta also struck her, which reportedly caused injury on her part. /