BUGALLON—The town’s vice mayor here, the complainant in the plunder case filed against the governor for the latter’s alleged involvement in jueteng, lamented that the Ombudsman has not acted on his charge filed more than three years ago.

Vice Mayor Rodrigo Orduña, who is again running for mayor in the May 9 polls against Espino’s son, Mayor Jumel Anthony Espino, told local newsmen Monday he is still waiting for progress on the complaint versus Gov. Amado Espino Jr.

“Kaya nga naiinip tayo pero wala tayong magawa dahil wala na sa ating kamay. Binigay na natin yan sa Ombudsman at naniniwala ako na gagawin ng Ombudsman ang kanilang trabaho tungkol diyan,” he said.

He said Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz and Bishop Diogracias Iñiguez were among those who joined Orduña when he filed the complaint against Espino.

Mr. Orduña, a self-confessed jueteng operator, then accused Mr. Espino of earning nearly P1 billion from jueteng operations in Pangasinan since becoming governor. He claimed to have delivered the governor’s weekly ‘take’ from jueteng.

The governor earlier cried political harassment on the plunder charge field by Mr. Orduña, his once very close and trusted associate, especially that the plunder complaint was filed before the 2013 elections.

The governor repeatedly denied his involvement in jueteng, saying it’s an old political issue.

The PUNCH tried to get reactions from Mr. Espino’s camp through Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco who said they are not aware of statements made by Mr. Orduña said in his press conference. (Tita Roces)

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