Capitol security officer hangs on, says Cebu anti-illegal fishing campaign would suffer if he resigns

“If I withdraw, we lose the battle.”

Saying he worried about the province’s anti-illegal fishing campaign, Capitol Chief Security Officer Loy Madrigal said he would ask Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to “reconsider” his decision to let the security chief resign over allegations of “immoral” conduct.

Madrigal said he was ready “to go” if there was someone to replace him in the task force.

Calling the allegations against him a “demolition job”, after photos of Madrigal sitting with his arm around his secretary were posted on Facebook, the official said he pitied the small fishermen.

¨Luoy kaayo sila. Kung naa lang gyuy makapuli nako nga makapanalipod sa gagmayng mananagat, I will go. Until then, unsaon man na sila?” he told reporters at his office yesterday.

(They are pitiful. If only there was someone to replace me and look after the small fishermen, I will go. Until then, what will become of them?)

Governor Davide, who called him on the phone yesterday, asked for a meeting on Monday, apparently to discuss his advice for Madrigal to resign along with the secretary, who is a casual employee.

COZY POSE

Davide was upset after two candid photos were posted last Sept. 9 by Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez on his Facebook account, where the administration critic asked sarcastically whether the couple seated cozily on a bench in the terminal of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were traveling on official business.

Madrigal yesterday questioned the photos as “manipulated” images but couldn’t say how they were altered.

He confirmed that he was in Manila visiting two sick uncles on Aug. 23 when the photos were reportedly taken.

“I was there. That was my personal time. Whether I was seeing a man or a woman, it’s none of his (Ramirez) business. It’s my private life,” he said.

Governor Davide said he was aware of rumors that the security officer, who is divorced, and his married secretary were having an affair.

“It will be a big loss,” announced the governor on Thursday, “ because of what he (Madrigal) has done for us but nobody is indispensable in public service.”

Davide, who ran for governor with a “Mr. Clean” image and anti-corruption platform, said he was asking for the resignation of both workers “because for me the issue here is of morality.”

“Looking at the photos, it was clear that there is a relationship,” he said.

Madrigal reported for work at his Capitol office yesterday but his secretary was absent for the second day. He said she hasn’t been feeling well.

DENIAL

When reporters asked about about allegations of immorality, Madrigal denied it.

“Di man na tinuod,” he said.

He said his relationship with the secretary Iris Plaquita Camello, was a “working relationship” and that she was a good office worker.

He asked the media to spare her: “She’s a single parent and she’s the only one supporting her two daughters.”

Madrigal said he had tried training people in the past but he hasn’t found someone to succeed him yet head of enforcement in the task force.

He said the aggressive campaign against illegal fishing in Cebu has earned him enemies, including Mayor Ramirez, and that illegal operators have tried bribing him to back off apprehending fishing operators.

“The war is here also in the Capitol. They know my movements and when I leave for an operation,” said Madrigal.

The security officer is one of a handful of co-terminous officials who joined Davide’s administration after the 2013 election.

“I left the United States even when I made more money there. I came back home to serve because I believe in the leadership of Governor Davide and I still believe in him,¨ he said yesterday.

Madrigal said the posting of the Facebook photos was part of a conspiracy to bring him down.

“I’ve been threatened, bribed, and now this. This is all part of a counterblow for all I’ve done against illegal fishing,” he said.

Madrigal said Mayor Ramirez , who was been openly attacking him in his Facebook account, was getting even for various operations on illlegal fishing in Medellin town.

He said the photos could have been altered based on Ramirez’s comment on Facebook that he had to bring the picture to a “forensic lab” to make his “ugly face clearer”.

“What else has he done to the picture?”

Unintentional

Mayor Ramirez, in a separate interview, laughed off the comments.

The mayor has long been poking fun at Madrigal for “selectively” apprehending fishing operators in the town. He said the taskforce chief only arrests those who are not in the same political party as him.

“It wasn’t my intention to get him kicked off his post. I never knew the woman beside him in the photo was his secretary,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez said he knew of rumors linking the official to a woman but wasn’t aware it was referring to the secretary, until after the photo was posted and drew more information.

The feud with Madrigal started when early in the governor’s term, Ramirez said.

“Nahibong ko ani niya kay nagpataka na man lang og panakop nganhi sa among lungsod. Kadto pong niaging barangay election, iyang gibaharan ang usa ka kandidto kay dili niya kapartido. Ug katong pagkaon nga gipadala sa Capitol para diri sa Medellin, iya gyung gidugay-dugay,” the mayor said.

INVESTIGATION

The governor said the Committee on Discipline and Investigation (CODI) headed by lawyer Mark Tolentino would handle the case.

It won’t be an easy start.

“The committee is having a hard time deciding where to begin, what aspect to look at, because the issue of the Governor was morality,” said Capitol spokemsan Ethel Natera in a press conference.

She said the Capitol at present has no capability to verify Madrigal’s claim that the photos were altered.
“Once we get started, we will try to look at every aspect that we can look into,” said Natera.

Although Davide made a “request” for Madrigal and the secretary to resign, due process has to be followed, she said.

“That was the governor’s call. He asked both to resign but that doesn’t mean right then and there. That’s what the investigation is for,” she said.

Related Story:

Davide asks Capitol security chief to resign after FB photo scandal

 

TAGS: Loy Madrigal, resignation