Barangay Captain accuser cries harassment, files grave coercion at Ombudsman

Days after she filed a graft case against Quezon City Barangay Kaligayahan Chairman Alfredo 'Freddy' Roxas, threats that something bad would happen to her kept pouring in her mobile phone and social media account.

Aljean Abe, the village's former teaching aide went to the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday to file another Grave Coercion charge against Roxas in relation to Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Abe in her complaint furnished to Daily Tribune narrated that when she filed the graft charges on September 11, 2023, several messages were sent to her cellular phone by supporters of Roxas threatening to do harm to her.

Abe averred that the threat messages came from Mark Roldan Santiago Sedilla and Jennilyn Guiling Montefalco both employees of Brgy. Kaligayahan and avid supporters of Roxas who is also an honorary councilor for being the president of League of Barangay Chairmen in the city.

Fearing for her life and her family, Abe decided to transfer to a place where Roxas and his supporters could not reach her. However, the following day (September 12) she was surprised to see their barangay vehicle parked in front of her new address where Melanie Aviguetero, Jamaica Jallorica, and the unidentified man tried to take photos of her.

The three are also employees of Brgy. Kaligayahan, according to Abe, informed her that she needed to go to their office and talk to Roxas.

Two days after (September 14, 2023) Abe said she received a text message asking why she filed a graft case against Roxas. She was also asked if she needed monetary assistance from their barangay and if she wanted to be hired again as a barangay worker.

If she agrees, she needs to go to their barangay to sign a contract and some documents in front of a lawyer. These things, Abe said prompted her to file the grave coercion charges against Roxas.

Abe, and another barangay worker, Hernando Compedio filed charges of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Roxas a couple of weeks ago upon learning that their names were still included in the barangay payroll list even after they had already been fired and resigned from their jobs.

Other charges of graft practices were also filed by Barangay Kaligayahan Kagawad laban kay Punong Barangay Allan Francisco Jr. against Roxas over a resolution passed without the proper barangay council session.

Roxas meanwhile, could not be reached to comment on the charges hurled against him.