abused accused

“You can't judge a book by its binding” is a line in the 1944 American journal, American Speech. This proverb is correlated with Councilor Edwin Jagmoc in Cebu City. According to Sun.Star Cebu, Jagmoc is urged by Local Official Leader Jonathan “Atan” Guardo, to resign because of the issue of having an “affair” with a female City employee, specifically in Mayor’s Management Team (MMT). (Follow this link to know more about Cebu City) http://www.tourism.gov.ph/explore_phil/place_details.asp?content=description&;province=40 (Follow this link for the Sun.Star Cebu report) http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/guardo-urges-councilor-resign-over-%E2%80%98affair%E2%80%99-city-employee Guardo also said in Sun.Star Cebu that his determination for Jagmoc’s resignation is on the basis of “when you betray your family, it’s as though you betray the city as well, because you fail to honor your vows.” Should the government further investigate on the issue? And should Jagmoc resign because of the issue about his morality? But Jagmoc and his wife in a joint interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer said that they already resolved the alleged “affair” within the involved parties. (Follow this link to know more about the Inquirer’s report) http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view/20090707-214276/A-lesson-in-shame So there is no point in searching for an answer in a solved problem. The matter was resolved between the involved parties. The government has a lot of issues to face and solve. Instead of focusing so much attention on the life of Jagmoc, why not try to resolve some other issues. Article III, Section 14 of the Philippine Constitution says that, “No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law.” This section means that the accused is innocent until proven. The City council only has the authority over infractions committed during the session, for example, continuous absences, use of violent or foul languages, misconduct, etc. In addition, Article XI, Section 1 also states that the grounds for a public officer to be removed on service are: if he or she is violating the Constitution, Treason, Bribery, Graft and Corruption, and other High crimes. The Constitution itself does not include adultery or concubinage to be a ground for removal from office of an official. Still the issue of adultery or concubinage is not a simple matter to be ignored. Adultery and concubinage is against the Article 333 (adultery) and 334 (concubinage) of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippine Constitution Let this serve as a wake-up call for all people about adultery and concubinage. People should not be ignorant and tolerant to immoral acts. Public officials should be morally upright because they are in the spotlight.