CORRUPTION AT DAVAO CITY COUNCIL -Update 7

Militar tags Baluran
as “broker councilor”
By ROGER M. BALANZA

Davao City councilor Bonifacio Militar yesterday unmasked the “broker councilor from the Second District” he earlier said had lobbied for legislation reportedly with a price tag.
Militar, who resigned the floor leadership three weeks ago, tagged councilor Conrado Baluran as the lobbyist who attempted to convince him to skip house rules to pave the way for approval of several pieces of legislation.
The veteran councilor, in a privilege speech yesterday, however failed to substantiate his accusation with documents to back the corruption rap.
Baluran denied the charge that the council committee on ethics would subject to a full-blown investigation.
“He can deny it a million times but that is the truth,” Militar told media after the 4-hour session nearly two hours of which spent on discussion on his accusation by councilors.
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus, chair of the anti-graft body, said Militar and Baluran would be asked to appear in a committee hearing over the allegation that rocked the city council since Militar turned in his resignation letter.
In the letter, Militar said he was resigning to spare himself being tainted by attempts of some councilors to favor approval of legislation outside of city council house rules.
Damaging reports about city councilors mulcting businessmen and housing developers applying for clearance for project sites have been circulating here even before Militar, who has been replaced by councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, stepped down as floor leader.
On the day his resignation letter was read on the floor three weeks ago, councilor Nilo Abellera said a male anonymous citizen called him by phone to reveal about P1.5 million in bribe handed to an unnamed councilor for approval of an application.
Councilor Victorio Advincula has demanded Militar name the mulcting councilor from his district, to spare him and other councilors representing the Second District.
Militar’s bombshell yesterday followed his non-appearance at the city council session and an ethics committee hearing two weeks ago that he was expected to attend. He had filed a leave of absence until Monday.
The floor leader came to the session with a full gallery yesterday armed with a prepared privilege speech, but went ballistic against Baluran after the tame speech.
Militar had resigned as floor leader following reports city councilors would replace him for unfairly dealing with them during council sessions.
But Militar said he refused to believe that the planned ouster was about his character. He said councilors conspired to oust him so that they can lay their hands on choice committees that could bring dirty money.