Brgy. chief snubs meeting with mayor

Quisumbing: Cubacub official accused of pointing gun at two individuals may face suspension

DESPITE having been summoned by Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, Cubacub Barangay Captain Almario Bihag did not show up at City Hall yesterday.

Cubacub was asked by Quisumbing to see him after he allegedly pointed a gun at two women during a barangay assembly last Friday night.

Since the village chief failed to meet him, the mayor asked his chief of staff Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan to contact Bihag and find out what happened.

But the barangay captain, in a text message, begged off from giving any statement about the incident.

“Thanks for asking my side but as of now, I will not give any statement yet. I’m so sorry and I hope you understand,” he said.

Bihag was reported to the police after he allegedly pointed his .45 pistol to Rolita Balani, 59, and Wennie Sikad, 38, during the Multi-Sectoral Governance Coalition (MSGC) election held at the Cubacub gym in Purok 3.

The incident was captured in a 19-second video from the cellphone of Balani.

Sikad was seeking reelection as chairperson of MSGC, which is under the City Community Affairs Office, against Bihag’s father.

After Sikad was reelected, the barangay captain called the event facilitator on the phone and ordered that the election be stopped.

Bihag then showed up in the middle of the event carrying a firearm.

According to the police, Bihag allegedly poked the gun at Balani and then pointed it to Sikad when he saw her recording him.

Balani and Sikad met with Quisumbing the day after the incident for fear of their safety.

Quisumbing said Bihag had talked to one of his staff and explained his side.

But he said he still intends to meet with the parties concerned.

The complainants have executed an affidavit so appropriate administrative charges will be filed against Bihag before the City Council.

Quisumbing and City Administrator Danilo Almendras said suspending Bihag is the “highest punishment” that can be imposed against him.

“We do not condone and accept that kind of behavior and quite frankly, that incident really came as a shock to me last Friday because Kap Kadoy (Bihag), on normal basis, he is really one of our most friendly barangay captains,” the mayor said.

Aside from filing a complaint before the council, Almendras, who is the former director of the Department of Interior and Local Government Cebu City, said Balani and Sikad can file a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against Bihag.