POLICE filed cases against Dumanjug Councilor Efren "Gun-gun" Gica and his brother Erwin "Wado" Gica for allegedly beating up a youth leader and shooting a nephew of Efren's political opponent for the mayoral race.
This, as the Gicas' father, lawyer Edgar Gica, called on the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 to conduct a deeper investigation.
Acting Cebu Provincial Police Chief Erson Digal said they found four witnesses who executed affidavits identifying Efren as the one who beat up Fulton Francis Riconalla. Erwin was allegedly the one who shot Lou Oliver Garcia in the shoulder.
The police filed a physical injuries case against Efren and a frustrated homi-cide case against Erwin.
Police visit
Edgar has said he will disprove the charges against his sons and that the situation was created to provoke them. He said his sons did not have guns.
Whether Garcia or Ri-conalla started the argument, Digal said a crime was committed when someone was beaten up and shot.
PRO 7 Director Lani-o Nerez said the lawyer dropped by his office yesterday morning to make his request. Nerez said the visit was short and did not last five minutes.
"He did not say he was not satisfied. He just requested that the investigation be thorough," Nerez told reporters.
Efren, who was defeated in Monday's elections, lamented how they are being blamed for the gunshot.
He said they were the ones assaulted in a gathering organized not by the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Ylaya as alleged, but by their own youth organization, to thank supporters.
Efren's version
He stressed the shot came from a member of the group accompanying 32-year-old Lou Oliver, nephew of Gov. Gwen Gar-cia and Dumanjug Mayor-elect Nelson Garcia.
In fact, he said, he and his brother fled from the scene out of fear for their own safety. While they were running, he feared all the while that his elder brother, Wado, had been hit.
He pointed out they were the ones who had the incident reported to the police.
Complaints
The Gica family is preparing to lodge complaints for attempted murder and serious physical injuries against a yet to be specified number of people for the May 11 assault, Atty. Elias Espinoza said yesterday.
"It was they who were attacked. Now they are saying they shot somebody?" Espinoza said.
Initial investigation by the Dumanjug PNP Station indicates the fracas erupted at the Barangay Ylaya gym around 2 a.m. Tuesday.
Gungun's version of the incident indicates Garcia and his companions dropped by uninvited to the gathering organized by the Youth Loves Dumanjug Club, an organization he founded.
He said he and Wado were accompanied by six other people but none of them came armed.
He said Riconalla, the SK chairman of neighboring Barangay Tapan, went up to him and ridiculed him over his defeat.
Slighted
He then admitted that he felt slighted and pushed Riconalla hard. The latter, however, recovered and punched him in the face. He punched back, sending Riconalla running out of the gym.
However, Riconalla doubled back, this time accompanied by a few others including Ipot Gicale and Garcia, forcing Gica to retreat.
He said Wado saw the incoming group and intervened by sending Garcia to the floor with a punch.
It was at this point, he said, that he saw somebody from the opposing group pull out a firearm.
He said they ran to their car and, while en route, heard another blast of gunfire as their own supporters blocked the pursuing group.
He said they drove to their headquarters in Barangay Sima, also in Dumanjug town, where it was suggested that they leave for Cebu City to seek treatment for their injuries.