Village Leader in the Philippines Accidentally Streams Affair With Treasurer on Zoom Call

Jesus Estil, the captain of Fatima Dos Village in Cavite, joined a Zoom conference along with the village council last week to discuss his plans for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Coconuts Manila.

 

However, Estil allegedly pushed the wrong button and did not close his camera. Then, he stood up and approached a woman who later performed a sexual act on him.

Some residents of the village created a petition calling for the chairman to resign, the New York Post reported.

“It is not right as the leader of our barangay,” one villager told reporters, according to Asia One. “He should be like a father to us and lead by example to his constituents.”

Both the chairman and treasurer reportedly ended up resigning, according to Jorge Magno, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in the city.

“The barangay chairman has resigned for the peace of everyone,” Magno told local radio DzBB in Tagalog on Thursday via the Inquirer. “He is asking for understanding and forgiveness over what happened.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which described the incident as “appalling” and “disturbing,” going against the public morals and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, will send a team to investigate the matter, according to DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya.

“If true, this is unbecoming of an elected government official,” Malaya said. “We assure that we will investigate this incident and will make the barangay captain liable to whichever appropriate sanction over his action.”

Estil and the female village official may still face charges even though they have already left their positions, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año told the Philippine News Agency on Friday.

“Even if they resign, they will still face charges depending on what they did during their tenure in office,” Año said.

However, Malaya said they have yet to receive Estil’s resignation letter.