THE wife of a former barangay health worker who was shot allegedly by Babag, Cebu City Barangay Councilor Renante Bacarisas will file charges against the village official today.
Mabolo Police Station Chief Dindo Juanito Alaras said that Bacarisas will face a frustrated murder complaint, which the Office of the City Prosecutor will weigh to see if there’s basis to proceed to a trial.
The village official fled Babag after the incident, which reportedly happened near the barangay hall past 1 p.m. last Sunday.
Bacarisas argued with George Ibona, a meat supplier, before he allegedly shot the latter twice. They are cousins.
“We are looking into a personal grudge as the motive,” said Alaras.
Cebu City Police Office Director Joel Doria urged Bacarisas to surrender and face the complaint.
Ibona, 36, was rushed to a hospital where he was treated for gunshot wounds in his neck and body. Alaras said that the victim was declared out of danger.
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña suspects that reelected Babag Barangay Captain Cesar Dolorito is protecting his first councilor, who is now the subject of a police manhunt.
Help for the wounded
In his news conference, Osmeña said he will extend legal assistance to the victim.
While he doesn’t have orders for the police on the incident, the mayor suspects that politics may have been involved.
“I suspect that politics is involved. I tell you, I suspect the barangay captain is sheltering him. Why? I don’t know. Perhaps, favorites,” he told reporters.
Dolorito is a former ally of the opposition, but he defected from the group when Osmeña assumed office in July 2016.
He and his brother-in-law, Bacarisas, ran under Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) during the May 14 polls.
“I disowned him (Dolorito). I never liked him. I disowned him long before the (shooting) issue,” said Osmeña, who heads BOPK.
Dolorito, though, denied the allegations and said that he is coordinating with the police to fast-track Bacarisas’s arrest.
“Ako ang niuna og tawag sa Mabolo Police Station. Na-pressure gani ko ani nga mapa-surrender or makuha na nato si Renante (I called the police first. I am under pressure to persuade Renante to surrender),” he said.
Despite being alienated from BOPK, Dolorito said he has no plans of returning to the opposition. For now, he wants to focus on finding Bacarisas.
“I’m willing to talk with the mayor, especially now. My plan is to bring with me Renante para makit-an sa mga katawhan (so the people will see him),” he said. (KAL, RTF)