LAOAG CITY (Nov. 18) – The widow of the late barangay chairman of brgy. 2, Sarrat, Ilocos Norte has filed an administrative case against Sarrat Mayor Edito Balintona in connection with the killing of her husband last Oct. 19.
Mrs. Liza Cariño filed the complaint last Thursday afternoon before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Nore chaired by Vice Gov. Angelo Marcos Barba.
In the said complaint, Mayor Balintona was charged with misconduct in office and gross negligence for not exercising due diligence in choosing the members of his security escorts and drivers.
Record showed the three suspects in the Carino slay served as either bodyguards or driver of the mayor when the incident took place.
It was also noted in the complaint that the gun used in the killing of Cariño was allegedly owned by Mayor Balintona.
During the pursuit police operation, the motor vehicle used by the three suspects during the shooting incident was traced to be allegedly owned by the mayor. It was found in the latter’s residence hours after the incident, probers said.
Mayor Balintona, in his initial reaction, expressed belief that the widow’s legal action against him was being dictated by an influential person in the province.
