Ombudsman dismisses complaint against mayor

The Ombudsman dismissed the complaint filed by two sea marshals against Sta. Fe Mayor Jose Esgana whom they accused of threatening them on board a vessel he rode in last year.

The complaint of grave threats were filed by sea marshals Rodolfo Solidor and Carl Martin Solidor against the mayor who supposedly displayed hostile behavior when they asked him for payment of tickets he bought for his trips on board the LCT Island II, a vessel owned by Island Shipping Corp.

On a June 4, 2015 trip, Solidor alleged that Esgana scolded him after he asked for payment when the mayor, his bodyguard and driver were unable to show their tickets.

Five days later, Absalon, who was on duty at the time, also got scolded by Esgana after he asked him to pay for a third ticket on seeing another person board the same vessel with the mayor and his driver.

In both cases, the two marshals claimed that the mayor boasted about his position and threatened to have them relieved.

Esgana claimed that on the first trip, he realized his mistake and paid P500 to Solidor for three tickets.

Esgana said he asked Absalon to get a third ticket for his companion upon arrival at Hagnaya Port in San Remigio since they had to catch up on the earliest trip.

Esgana admitted that he spoke out of turn to Absalon out of frustration since he was tired at the time.

The Ombudsman said there was no sufficient evidence to indicate that the mayor threatened them with harm.