A member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Kabankalan has called for a formal investigation into alleged “troll” activity involving a City Hall employee who reportedly receives a daily wage of P950.
In a privilege speech on Thursday, February 19, Councilor Anne Marie Zayco raised concerns over social media posts claiming that Alan Francisco Bolanon — identified online as the operator of the Facebook page “Lagawan sa Kabankalan” — is currently employed as Chief Mechanic at the City Motorpool.
Zayco alleged during her speech that Bolanon was “functioning as a social media troll for a few chosen government officials,” citing posts from the page that she said appeared partisan in nature.
She also referenced screenshots circulating online which purportedly show that Bolanon has no recorded absences and receives P950 per day. However, posts on the “Lagawan sa Kabankalan” page allegedly show him in various locations around Kabankalan City during regular office hours.
The councilor stressed that the claims remain unverified but said the matter warrants a thorough and impartial investigation, especially since it involves public funds.
“If this is true, then the tax money of the people of Kabankalan is being wasted on social media trolls and not on actual services needed by the people,” she said.
She then moved that the city’s Human Resource Department and other pertinent departments conduct a thorough investigation into the reports and social media posts alleging that trolls are being employed by the City of Kabankalan and misappropriating taxpayers’ money.
Zayco also called on fellow Sanggunian members to conduct themselves in a manner deserving of respect, emphasizing that respect is earned through genuine work for the interests and betterment of all the people of Kabankalan.
She said their mandate is to serve all constituents and to prioritize public interest over personal interest.
As of posting time, there has been no official statement from the City Government regarding the matter.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.