Town secretary faces direct assault charges

A MUNICIPAL secretary in Catmon town, northern Cebu is facing trial for punching a councilor in a Sangguniang Bayan regular session last year.

The Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas found probable cause to indict Arnold Duran on charges of direct assault.

Duran was accused by town councilor Ceasar Coloscos of trying to hit him with a coffee mug and punching his head over a heated argument on July 26, 2011.

In his complaint, Coloscos said he asked for corrections in the minutes of the meeting.

He said the presiding officer ruled to note and add the corrections in the approved minutes.

However,  Duran refused since he allegedly did not hear the complainant utter the words that will be included in the corrections.

Coloscos blamed the  municipal secretary for not tape recording the proceedings which resulted in the discrepancy of the  minutes.

Coloscos  asked whether the municipal secretary  was dictating to the Sangguniang Bayan since  he  refused to comply with the ruling of the presiding officer.

Duran then approached and pointed his finger at  the councilor and allegedly   threw a coffee mug at  him, narrowly missing the councilor.   Coloscos said Duran punched him in the head, but Duran denied it. /REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL