By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña yesterday questioned the authenticity of a letter supposedly from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) discharging him of police power.

The mayor’s camp, however, stated they have yet to personally receive a copy of the letter.

Upon observation, he claimed the layout of the letter is different from other memorandum circulars issued by the DILG.

In addition, the mayor’s camp pointed out, the letter lacks barcodes, which are normally seen on all DILG memorandum circulars issued by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.

Peña also provided a statement via text message to Watchmen Daily Journal, where he slammed the letter, saying, “Everything is fake news fabricated by a ‘dead hungry’ individual.”

Copies of the letter, which were forwarded to members of the media, include a signature from Año, dated May 25, 2018.

According to the letter, Department of Justice Action Center commissioner, Atty. Perla Duque, endorsed the recommendation to discharge Peña of police power, which originated from a complaint filed by Task Force Kasanag (TFK).

The document said, after the office conducted a thorough investigation on April 30, they issued a memorandum discharging Peña due to “probable cause found during the probe.”

It also noted, on May 23, they received an appeal from Peña requesting a reconsideration.

However, when Watchmen Daily Journal contacted Negros Occidental DILG Director Carmelo Orbista, he said they have not received a copy of the letter.

“No, my office has yet to receive such documents,” he affirmed.

The DILG officer, however, confirmed they did receive a copy of the TFK complaint, filed by TFK national commander John Chiong back in January, questioning Moises Padilla municipal police handling of Vice Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo’s arrest.

Yulo, along with her husband, were arrested last year at a police checkpoint on alleged possession of firearms, explosives, and illegal drugs./DGB, WDJ