Makati employees file complaints vs. Taguig mayor et al

Four employees of the Makati City Government on Tuesday filed complaints for illegal detention and grave coercion against Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and others before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.

Three counts of illegal detention for violation of Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code and one count of grave coercion for violation of 286 were filed against Cayetano.

The other respondents are Taguig City Administrator Jose Luis Montales, Business Permits and Licensing Office head Maria Theresa Veloso, Traffic Management Office (TMO) head Danny Cañaveral, and other John Does.

In separate complaint-affidavits, Makati City employees Salvador Mercado, Ryalyn Almazar and Salvador Palisa accused Cayetano and others of ordering employees of the Taguig City Government to detain them on separate occasions on March 1, 2 and 3.

On March 1, Palisa said that several individuals chained and padlocked the gate and blocked the entrances to the Makati Park and Garden. He said that he was locked inside for two days.

Meanwhile, Almazar said she and her co-employees weren’t allowed to leave the Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA). She said they were trapped for several hours.

For his part, Mercado said that he was prevented from leaving the Makati Park Amphitheatre for one day on March 3. He said he was told that the park did not have a permit from Taguig.

Complainant Joven Mediavillo, meanwhile, said a man wearing a Taguig vest shouted at him and prevented him from entering MASA. Mediavillo said he waited but the gate remained locked and he was not allowed entry.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Taguig but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.—RF, GMA Integrated News