QC TO PROSECUTE ERRING OFFICIAL

QUEZON City Mayor Maria Josefina "Joy" Belmonte on Thursday said the city engineering official accused of extortion would face charges despite the withdrawal of complaints against him.

Belmonte said the complainant, a 47-year-old Filipino Chinese businessman who sought the help of the Quezon City Police District for the arrest of Quezon City Engineering Department supervisor Joel Avila, has decided to withdraw his charges against the city official.

"Sadly, the complainant withdrew his complaint and decided to settle. He may have decided to withdraw and settle the case instead because, under the law, he would still be held liable if the complaint against Avila is pursued," Belmonte said.

However, the mayor said this does not mean Avila will no longer face prosecution.

"We are exhausting all legal means available to us to ensure his misdemeanors do not go unpunished," Belmonte said.

"It is also against the law to solicit the services of fixers and to bribe government employees," she added.

Initial probe said that Avila alegedly asked money from the complainant amounting to millions of pesos for the processing of building and zoning permits, as well as a certificate of exemption, for a pet food warehouse.

2024-03-28T16:15:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd