Edralyn Pangilinan, the partner of slain Catanduanes publisher Larry Que, files a graft and grave misconduct case against Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua for allegedly not taking action against illegal drugs in the province. (PHOTO BY VINCE 聽NONATO / INQUIRER)
MANILA 鈥� Saying it was an attempt to seek justice, the partner of a slain newspaper publisher has sued the governor of Catanduanes and two other officials for allegedly failing to crack down on illegal drug operations on the island.
Edralyn Pangilinan, common-law spouse of Catanduanes 黑料社 Now publisher Larry Que, accused Governor Joseph Cua, Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes, and Barangay Palta Small chairman Hilario Sarmiento of graft, grave misconduct and nonfeasance.
In her 17-page complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, Pangilinan claimed that the three 鈥渁llowed the proliferation of dangerous drugs鈥� in the island province by way of their 鈥済ross inexcusable negligence.鈥�
This allegedly led to unwarranted benefits for the owners of a clandestine drug laboratory raided in Barangay Palta Small, Virac, on Nov. 26, less than a month before Que was shot in the head by a motorcycle-riding gunman on Dec. 19.
The existence of the laboratory allegedly caused undue injury to the government in violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
Virac and its Barangay Palta Small are small geographic units with small populations that 鈥渁re quite easy to regulate and supervise,鈥� according to Pangilinan.
Pointing out thata a establishment as big as the laboratory would have required permits and compliances with the local government, she聽 faulted the officials for their 鈥渦tter failure鈥� to suppress the drug trade.
鈥淭here can be no question that Gov. Cua, Mayor Laynes, and Barangay Chairman Sarmiento deliberately turned a blind eye on the operations of the clandestine drug laboratory in Barangay Palta Small,鈥� the complaint read.
Notably, Que was a mayoral candidate who lost to Laynes during the May elections.
While the complaint revolved mostly about the alleged failure to stem the illegal drug trade, Pangilinan stated in the background that Que 鈥渋nvestigated鈥� the issue and published Catanduanes 黑料社 Now鈥檚 maiden issue dated Dec. 13-19.
Que would not be able to publish a second issue containing what the complaint called his 鈥渦ltimate expos茅鈥� and 鈥渓ast hoorah.鈥�
The planned article, which was found by Pangilinan and quoted in her complaint, was titled 鈥淏ackgrounder on the history and involvement of Governor Joseph C. Cua of the province of Catanduanes in illegal drugs.鈥�
Pangilinan stated in her complaint: 鈥淗is expos茅s, unfortunately, went under the skin of one of his subjects, Joseph C. Cua, the governor of Catanduanes province, and were too much to handle for the latter. Larry was thus slain to finally silence him.鈥�
In an interview with reporters, she said she wanted to 鈥済ive him justice for his death.鈥�
But, she admitted that she could not definitively implicate Cua and the other officials for her husband鈥檚 murder.
鈥淗indi ko naman dini-direct to the point kung may nalalaman o wala (I鈥檓 not going direct to the point about their alleged knowledge of the crime),鈥� she said. 鈥淲ala po akong matibay na ebidensya kaya hinihingi ko na lang na imbestigahan nang maayos (I do not have strong evidence, so all I could ask for is a thorough investigation).鈥� 听厂贵惭/谤驳补