Sitoy ‘digging up’ proof against Salud

A DAY after he filed a perjury case against boxing promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy revealed his plan to sue Salud over the latter’s alleged involvement in the illegal numbers game.

“I’m gathering evidence. I’m digging up,” Sitoy said in a phone interview yesterday.

But lawyer Fillmore Gomos, one of Salud’s lawyers, said they are ready to defend their client.

He said the illegal numbers game in Cordova continues under Sitoy’s watch.

“He should have acted on the problem a long time ago. Why act only now?” Gomos said.

Snubbing the issue

In an interview over radio dyLA, Salud denied he is engaged in the illegal numbers game.

“Makita ra man na kung unsay tinuod… Dili na lang ko modaghan og estorya ana kay musamot tag dili mahuman ang estorya… Basta dili na tinuod (The truth will come out eventually. I will not talk about it at length or else this issue will not end. It’s not true),” he said.

Next week, Sitoy said, he will ask the court to cite Salud and his lawyers in contempt. He will also file a disbarment case against the lawyers.

Sitoy said the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), denying Salud’s appeal to be a registered voter of Cordova was final and executory, and that Salud’s filing of a motion for reconsideration was contemptuous.

“Wa nila tahura ang desisyon sa korte (They disrespected the court’s decision),” said Sitoy, who will seek reelection in May next year.

He also said Salud should be cited in contempt for filing a certificate of candidacy for mayor of Cordova last Oct. 4 despite the court ruling.

But Gomos said RTC Judge Raphael Yrastorza Sr. would not have ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to comment on the motion for reconsideration, if the filing of the motion was contemptuous in the first place.

Due course

“Kung contemptuous amo gibuhat, diha-diha dayon gikasaban na unta mi (If what we did was contemptuous, then the judge should have scolded us right then and there),” said Gomos. “Judge Yrastorza is giving due course on our motion.”

Sitoy, a law professor, said Salud’s lawyers are “either ignorant of the law or they are misleading their client.”

But Gomos said Sitoy should wait for the decision of the Comelec and the RTC before jumping into conclusions.

“Everything is still hanging,” he said.

Sitoy said he is taking legal actions against Salud not because he is threatened by the boxing promoter’s candidacy.

“I am upholding the rule of law,” the mayor said. “I am teaching him (Salud) to observe the law.”

Sitoy said even if Salud gets elected as Cordova mayor, “I will file lawsuits against him left and right.”

Sitoy filed two counts of perjury against Salud at the Lapu-Lapu City Prosecutor’s Office last Friday.

In his affidavit, Sitoy said Salud falsely claimed that he has resided in Barangay Cogon, Cordova for one year and 11 months.

He said Salud also made a false assertion that he will become a registered voter of Cordova.

Salud’s claims, the mayor said, are false because when the boxing promoter filed his COC last Oct. 4, he was not a registered voter of Cordova and has not filed any new application for registration or for transfer of voter’s registration with Cordova’s Comelec office.