San Mateo County Asian Pacific Islander API Council President Wayne Lee called for a full investigation into the incident between Daly City Councilwomen Pamela DiGiovanni and Juslyn Manalo after the latter accused her colleague of attacking her and forcing her to go to the hospital before the Council meeting.
Thus, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the San Mateo County API Caucus and the API Caucus of the League of California Cities, Lee stated in a letter to Daly City Mayor Rod Daus-Magbual that the organizations are very concerned about media reports of the incident between Councilmembers Manalo and DiGiovanni at City Hall on Monday, September 26.
In view of this, he said that the API Caucus takes "very seriously all cases of hate speech, harassment, intimidation and physical violence" and called for measures to be taken for the protection of public servants.
"We take this incident very seriously and ask that action be taken quickly to protect all elected leaders, city staff, members of appointed boards and commissions and the public of Daly City from any further physical impact or harm associated with this incident," he detailed.
The letter, to which Peninsula 360 Press had access, suggests immediate actions such as requesting that a thorough and complete investigation of this incident be conducted and that qualified outside legal counsel be retained if necessary.
In addition, it asks that the community be kept informed of the status of these investigations within the constraints of those involved and their right to privacy; as well as that meaningful and appropriate action be taken if misconduct is found.
In turn, it requests that the City of Daly City undergo an analysis of measures that can be implemented in the future to prevent this type of violence whenever possible.
Lee pointed out that the API community in San Mateo County has endured decades of abuse, ranging from verbal attacks to physical violence, all of which are unacceptable forms of abuse, "and the increase in recent years of incidents is abhorrent."
"As elected leaders, we need to work together to ensure that our communities are safe, are accepting of different points of view, and that we set an example of how to work with each other with civility. Physical harm should not be tolerated," he said.
Finally, Lee stressed that API community organizations expect a thorough investigation to be conducted and substantial action to be taken based on the outcome of the inquiry.
According to a video of the Daily City Council meeting last Monday, September 26, Councilwoman Manalo said she was attacked by her counterpart DiGiovanni.
"I am distraught because Councilwoman DiGiovanni assaulted me at City Hall," said Juslyn Manalo.
Who then pointed out that it all started when they were both about to enter a conference room at the same time. "She closed the door on me as I was leaving," said Manalo, who then showed a photograph of her back, allegedly injured by DiGiovanni.
Councilwoman DiGiovanni, who is running for re-election, spoke out immediately afterwards at the same meeting, where she denied the accusations, while noting that she herself has been intimidated, although she did not clarify by whom.
"I vehemently deny that I did anything to assault, and that this is all politically motivated. Because I would never do anything like that to anyone," DiGiovanni said.
While Manalo and her attorney say they have not filed a lawsuit against DiGiovanni, Councilwoman Juslyn called on her counterpart to "have the decency to step forward and tell the truth."
With information from ABC7 News.
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