By Ben Serrano

     October 25, 2010

            BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - A 71 year old San Jose town resident and regsitered voter in Dinagat Islands Province complained to authorities this morning that Dinagat Islands Vice Governor Geraldine Ecleo Villaroman allegedly mauled him at around 9 p.m. Saturday evening at Purok 3, Barangay Cuarenta, San Jose town, capital of Dinagat islands Province.

            Belated report reaching Caraga Police Regional Office here identifeid the complainant as Felicismo Delabajan Dumandan, 71, married and resident of Purok 3, Barangay Cuarenta, San Jose, Dinagat Island.

            Police said the victim sustained contusions in his face and was brought to Dinagat District Hospital for medical treatment. Accordingly, the victim required several stitches.

           PNA tried to get the side of Vice Governor Villaroman through her former private secretary Rosario “Inday” Roxas now Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council Officer 

            Roxas gave two contact mobile phone numbers of the former Dinagat Governor now Vice Governor but when contacted both contact numbers can’t be contacted However, Roxas confirmed said mauling incident reported affirming it really took place saying it would be better to call personally the Vice Governor. 

           But when contacted several times both mobile numbers can't be contacted. 

            Roxas even gave the full name of the mauling victim but hinted it wasn’t allegedly all fault of the Vice Governor at all.  

            Information obtained through another reliable sources contacted by PNA alleged animosities among members of the Ecleo family or political clan may have something to do with the recent mauling incident. 

            Allegedly the Vice Governor had sill unsettled differences with his brother now Dinagat Island lone district Rep. Ruben Ecleo, Jr. who is former San Jose town Mayor. The Dinagat solon is also facing parricide charges in connection with gruesome killing of his wife in Cebu. 

            The Ecleo siblings allegedly had political differences with their mother, former Congresswoman now Dinagat Island Governor Glenda Ecleo 

            The other Ecleos were reportedly supporting Barbers political clan while others are throwing support to the Matugases Political clans. The Matugases and Barbers both big names in Surigao del Norte politics are bitter political rivals. 

            Last October 5, the Supreme Court issued resolution with finality and entry of judgment declaring Dinagat Islands is not a province because after thorugh study it did not meet land area and popultaion requirement 

            With SC final ruling, a special election will soon be held for Gubernatorial, Vice Governor and Provincial Board Members position in the first district for both Dinagat and Surigao del Norte voters thus intense political rivalries are in the foiing anew. (PNA/Ben Serrano)