Wife accuses Biliran mayor of physical abuse

THE wife of a Biliran mayor has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to criminally charge her husband for alleged physical abuse.

In a complaint affidavit filed Monday, Mrs. Myra Espina asked the Ombudsman to place under preventive suspension Kawayan Mayor Rodolfo Espina Sr., the brother of Biliran Representative Rogelio Espina.

She said Mayor Espina should be charged administratively for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of public officer and should be suspended by the Ombudsman.

Mrs. Espina also said the Ombudsman should file criminal charges against Mayor Espina for violating the antigraft law and the Republic Act 9262, or the Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Mrs. Espina said her husband hit her on the stomach and the breasts on Aug. 18, 2014. He also allegedly threatened her by pointing a knife at her neck.

“For several times, respondent had physically abused the complainant, sometimes or [for] no apparent reason and some other times for petty quarrels and misunderstandings,” the complaint read.

Mrs. Espina said the Ombudsman should charge Espina as a public officer because her husband has political clout, being a member of the Biliran political dynasty.

“With the very strong and wide clout and influence of the respondent being a scion of the Espina political clan of the province of Biliran, his brother being the incumbent Congressman of the province, it is most respectfully requested that these cases be tried in the Ombudsman Central Office,” the complaint said.

According to a medico-legal report issued by the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban, Mrs. Espina suffered hematoma and abrasion on the neck, arms and legs when she underwent check-up for the alleged mauling on Aug. 18, 2014.

Mayor Espina is the twin brother of former Biliran governor now Representative Rogelio Espina. His brother Gerryboy Espina is incumbent Biliran governor. AC