CORRUPTION AT DAVAO CITY COUNCIL - Update 8

A Davao City councilor accused of shady dealings outgunned a coming ethics probe, and absolved his accuser for what he said was an erroneous rap.

“I forgive him,” said councilor Conrado Baluran referring to former floor leader councilor Bonifacio Militar.

After stirring up a controversy with a resignation letter that accused some councilors of brokering deals with permit applicants with the city council, Militar had named Conde as having approached him to skip house rules to approve legislation apparently with a price tag.

During a break in yesterday’s session of the council, Baluran denied the charge.

He came to the session that Militar did not attend, after a quick trip to his hometown in Bohol where he said he prayed for guidance in a monastery. Baluran, a former seminarian, had admitted he was a real estate broker before landing a seat in the council.

Media had lapped up the Militar charge and Baluran said he thought he could cool off the controversy with an out-of-town trip.

“I make my enemies my friend,” said Baluran, a relative by affinity of Militar.

But Baluran’s forgiving stance may be premature. The city council committee on ethics chaired by councilor Diosdado Mahipus would start conducting a probe on Militar’s charge on March 24.