The controversy involving Niña Mabatid

Newly elected Mabolo Barangay Captain Niña Mabatid is facing administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of a public official and conduct prejudicial to the public service in relation to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act 6713.

The cases were filed by Irene Juliet Lacerna, Welbert Pepito and Edwin Acuyan, all employees of Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug. These stemmed from Mabatid’s acts inside the five-star hotel last June 19. In the CCTV footage released by the hotel and which went viral, Mabatid, together with a man later identified as Ramon Floresca, a businessman from Kidapawan City, was seen confronting Pepito, a hotel detective, as they were about to step into the elevator.

Mabatid pointed her finger at the hotel detective in what appeared like a heated argument. In the first confrontation, Floresca appeared calm and tried to pacify Mabatid. The two transferred to another elevator but the detective followed them.

That was when Floresca attempted to kick the detective and hit him in the face with his fist. Lacerna, the duty manager, came to the scene and joined the argument. Floresca was seen pushing the manager, who retaliated by pointing her finger at Mabatid.

If we just analyze the footage at face value, we can immediately conclude that Mabatid and Floresca were the “aggressors.” But if we are fair and neutral in our judgment, we should ask first, “What caused the altercation?”

In her press conference yesterday, Mabatid said

that as they were about to enter the elevator, the hotel detective asked them if they were official hotel guests. They answered yes but the detective arrogantly asked Niña to write her name in the logbook and register, suspecting that she was a prostitute. Some high-class prostitutes hang out in the hotel lobby looking for possible customers. Some male hotel guests also bring their “hired” partners to stay with them in their room. The management is reportedly strict about it.

If you were in the shoes of Mabatid, a barangay captain and president and chief executive officer of an international corporation, what would you feel?

Maka-insulto na uy.

Mabatid said that if pointing her finger and raising her voice is a crime, then she is willing to face it. But she was just insisting on her rights. She is a valued client of the hotel because she is regular customer and her company holds Christmas parties there.

On why she was with Floresca, the answer is, they are couple. They got married in the United States a couple of years ago. So what’s the big fuss? Niña is single, although she has two daughters from a previous relationship. Kinsa man nato wala’y previous relationship? Ako, daghan. Pagkatoytoy!

Mabatid views this as another black propaganda to destroy her reputation because she is running for the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) presidency in the city. She has been harassed politically and personally by the local powers that be. City Hall recalled all issued vehicles to Mabolo, put up a Barangay Mayor’s Office in her barangay and sent a demolition order for her mother’s house located near a creek. What’s next?

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. MABOLO BARANGAY CAPTAIN NINA MABATID, ON THE ALTERCATION INVOLVING HER AND HER COMPANION AND WATERFRONT HOTEL EMPLOYEES