Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member Da Vinci M. Crisostomo is once again on the warpath as he threatened to have the officer-in-charge of the Batac Land Transportation Office (LTO) declared as a ‘persona non grata’ in the province after the said official failed to attend the public hearing conducted by the board on alleged anomalies in the said Batac government office.

The Batac LTO OIC, Arnulfo M. Maranan, became the subject of a complaint filed by Alma Cid for alleged extortion activities.

Crisostomo said he would have Maranan declared as ‘persona non grata’ if he fails to attend the next scheduled hearing of the committee on good government on May 3.

The provincial lawmaker, who also hails from Batac, Ilocos Norte, said Maranan’s non-appearance, which the LTO official justified by saying he had to attend a regional meeting, is an apparent delaying tactic to directly face the charges leveled against him.

In Cid’s complaint, she said Maranan was demanding a fixed 10 percent commission from Cid’ insurance business for every client directed towards her. Maranan, according to Cid, also allegedly was asking for a P10,000 monthly allowance, later increased to P20,000.

Maranan denied all the accusations saying it was a “demolition job” against him and he also said he was prepared to answer all the charges brought out by Cid against him.

Leilanie G. Adriano

See related previous story:
Batac LTO chief hit for alleged extortion