Cojuangco hit for insulting town brass
BAYAMBANG—A public hearing on the controversial transfer of the Bayambang Community School that was earlier expected to end in conciliatory tones, ended on a sour note instead.
The raucous was triggered by a statement made by former Fifth District Rep. Mark Cojuangco who berated and insulted Municipal Engineer Eddie Melicurio during the public hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Committee on Education last August 17.
Mr. Cojuangco, who was invited by Filipinas Alcantara, president of the BCS Parent Teachers Association to the hearing, allegedly called Melicurio “bugok” to his face and asked for the latter’s removal from office.
The public hearing, presided by Councilor Raymond Camacho, was in connection with the resolution of the PTA of BCS, which requested the SB to pass a resolution seeking the return of pupils from the new school in Barangay Magsaysay to the old school in the Poblacion.
Melicurio told newsmen he was allegedly called “bugok” and ”estupido” by Mr. Cojuangco and heard by those in the hearing.
In that public hearing, Ms. Alcantara reportedly invited Mr. Cojuangco although the former congressman was not invited by the SB committee that called the public hearing.
Bayambang Mayor Ricardo Camacho, who was not in that public hearing, said he was dismayed that the discussion during the public hearing ended on a negative note with the town’s engineer being publicly humiliated by Mr. Cojuangco.
Mr. Melicurio was among the department heads who was asked to give his opinion on state of the old BCS and he said the old school “is no longer fit or conducive for learning.”
It was at that point when Mr. Cojuangco was recognized to react to Melicurio’s statement and proceeded to berate him and asked: “Ano ang ginawa ng municipal engineer sa loob ng dalawang taon? Dapat pagtatanggalin natin ang bugok na municipal engineer. (What did the municipal engineer do in a span of two years. We ought to remove this useless municipal engineer.)
Mr. Melicurio said he was dumbfounded on hearing Mr. Cojuangco referred to his as “bugok” and promptly protested the latter’s statement.
When the discussion turned into a shouting math, the barangay officials stood up and left, abruptly ending the hearing.
Melicurio, however, said he is not considering filing a case of slander. “Ipa-diyos ko na lang (I give it all to God). Let God take care of Mr. Cojuangco,” he said.
Mayor Camacho said he was saddened by the turn of events that saw the municipal engineer being humiliated “by someone who is not even a resident of Bayambang but a visitor who does even not hold any position in government.”
“Here in Bayambang, we respect and welcome all those coming to our town. And we expect these visitors to also respect us,” said Camacho. (Leonardo Micua)
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