Brawl continues in Taguig politics

ELECTION may be over but the war of words between leading political contenders in Taguig City is far from ending itself.

Congressman-elect Freddie Tinga hits Senator Alan Peter Cayetano for issuing “false and malicious” statements regarding a tear gas incident during the proclamation event Wednesday.

“These are all false accusations that has no basis whatsoever,” Tinga said of Cayetano’s accusation that their camp was responsible for the commotion.

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Tinga stressed that the policeman identified as Chief Inspector Mark Andrade, who had possession of the tear gas, was actually a member of the senator’s security escort.

Investigation showed that the concerned cop, clad in complete Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) uniform, had the tear gas worn at the back of his ammunition vest, when its pin was accidentally removed.

Taguig City Police Chief Camilo Pancratius Cascolan earlier said that the officer admitted the mistake.

Cayetano said the incident was part of Tinga’s effort to derail the proclamation of his wife who defeated the latter’s father, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Dante Tinga for the mayoralty post.

He also accused the local police of “harassing” him and his family in the run-up to the May 10 elections.

A day after the elections, a former barangay chairman filed a complaint with the police alleging that Cayetano and his escorts assaulted him on election day.

The Cayetanos denied the accusation and turned the table on their accuser, saying it was they who were harassed.

Despite the tension, the Board of Canvassers led by lawyer Felton Sadang and Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat has proclaimed all winning bets in the city.

Aside from Cayetano and Tinga, the winning candidates were Vice Mayor George Elias and Taguig-Pateros district representative-elect Arnel Cerafica.

Also proclaimed were the winning councilors: 1st district – Gigi de Mesa, Ronnette Franco, Jimmy Labampa, Rodil Marcelino, Bal Mariategue, Carlito Ogalinola, Carlo Papa, and Gamaliel San Pedro.

Second district councilors – Aurelio Paulo Bartolome, Jojo Eron, Estela Gasgonia, Che-Che Gonzales, Ricardo Jordan, Erwin Manalili, Jeff Morales, and Myla Valencia.

Tiñga’s local political party, the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig, won all the local posts.

Out of the 326,027 registered voters, Taguig City registered a 60 percent voter turnout in its 373 clustered precincts. (AH/Sunnex)