VM asked to explain govt. vehicle seized in drug bust

SANTA Rosa, Nueva Ecija, mayor, Josefino Angeles, has given 5 days for his vice mayor, Marie C. Evangelista, to explain in writing why a newly-purchased pickup truck by the local government and assigned to her for official use ended up being seized by the local police during a buy-bust operation last February 3, 2022.

Early in the evening of that day, joint operatives from the local police headed by P/Major Fortune Bernardo and the 303^rd Provincial Mobile Company, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), conducted a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Soledad that led to the arrest of suspected drug pusher, Rey Gee Valero Viñas, 29.

Viñas, also a resident of the village, was immediately collared after passing two plastic sachets of shabu from a poseur-buyer.

Aside from the illegal drugs, buy-bust money and his cellphone, the police also took custody of a white ‘Nissan Navarra’ being driven by Viñas, said Bernardo, in a report to Nueva Ecija acting police director, P/Col. Jess Mendez.

The vehicle, it turned out, was recently purchased by the local government (conduction sticker OW 7007) and has been assigned for official use by Evangelista.

“It appears that (the) Nissan Navarra Pickup seized from the suspect (Viñas) during the buy-bust operation is the same Nissan Navarra Pickup that was issued to you by the local government unit of Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, as your official service vehicle,” reads the letter of Angeles to his vice mayor.

“If the use of government vehicle for personal and social purposes is prohibited, it is axiomatic that the use of such government vehicle to further crime and illegal activities is undeniably forbidden,” the letter added.

Although not employed by Evangelista at her office, the suspect is a driver at their family’s trucking business; at the time of his arrest, he was however wearing the official blue polo-shirt with the printed logo of Evangelista’s office.

The vehicle, sources added, is also often times being seen being driven by Evangelista’s father, former barangay Sta. Teresita chairman, Rodolfo Evangelista.

Angeles said he is giving Evangelista 5 days to explain why her official vehicle got involved in an illegal drug transaction and was seized by the police as part of the evidence against Viñas.

The mayor informed Evangelista that she is liable to be charged, criminally and administratively, for violation of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards), RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), the Revised Administrative Code and regulations issued by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Angeles further warned that Evangelista’s failure to formally answer the show cause order would constitute a “waiver” on her right to be heard “and the preliminary investigation may be completed even without your comment/affidavit.”

Effort to reach Evangelista for comment proved futile as of posting of this article.