Barangay Captain Allegedly Skips Senate Hearing to Attend Basketball Game
A barangay captain faces backlash for skipping a senate hearing while attending a basketball championship game instead.
Ramolito Bautista, a barangay captain from San Jose Malino in Mexico, Pampanga, earns criticisms online for missing an important Senate hearing while attending a basketball championship game.
The issue took place during a recent session of the Senate Committee on Dangerous Drugs, where Bautista was summoned to provide insights regarding the massive P3.6 billion shabu bust in his barangay last year.
Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, visibly displeased, confronted Bautista over his absence in a previous hearing, citing medical reasons in an excuse letter.
“I’ll just like to remind you that you shouldn’t lie. Ano ka na sa akin, strike two ka na. Alam mo bakit? Because when you were invited and you were asked to be excused during that previous hearing, nagpadala ka dito ng excuse letter because of your medical condition,” Paduano said.
“Pero nandoon ka nanood ng basketball, championship. Do you confirm that you are indeed present there? Sabihin ko sa iyo ha, don’t lie because strike two ka na,” Paduano emphasized.
Bautista admitted to attending the basketball game, explaining, “I had a medical check-up the other day, but being a devoted basketball fan, I insisted on watching.”
Paduano pressed further, questioning Bautista’s decision to prioritize a sporting event over a critical Senate hearing, especially after claiming a medical impediment. He expressed regret for his actions before the committee.
“Bale po, the other day po no’n mayroon po akong check up, kaya medyo, ano po diehard po kasi ako ng basketball at pinilit ko pong manood,” Paduano explained.
In another post, a barangay captain claims delivery riders not exempted in curfew
The committee had called Bautista to discuss his encounters with Willie Ong, who is accused of being an alleged Chinese drug lord associated with Empire 999 Realty Corporation, which owned the warehouse where the substantial drug seizure occurred.
Bautista admits interacting with Ong while applying for storage permissions, complicating his ongoing investigation.
The Senate panel has issued a warrant for his arrest in response to Ong’s repeated non-appearances at hearings.