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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Words of a rob suspect: mayor
Bogo Mayor Celestino “Tining” Martinez III brushed off accusations implicating him in the Land Bank robbery last year, the plot to kill Daanbantayan Mayor Ma. Luisa Loot and her husband, Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Vicente Loot.
“These are mere words of a criminal and robbery suspect that will not hold water in an impartial investigation,” Martinez said in a radio interview last night.
He said he already talked with his lawyers on the filing of a libel suit against Joel Sumabong, a suspected robbery gang leader, and the politician backing him.
Martinez refused to name the politician. He also referred to Loot as the political archenemy of his family.
“It’s his (Sumabong’s) words against mine,” he said over radio dyMF.
Sumabong earlier said in a video compact disc distributed to media outlets that he is a former henchman of Martinez and that he was forced to come out with his revelations because the mayor’s family wants him killed.
He surrendered to the police yesterday.
Martinez said Sumabong is being used by a politician who wants to undermine his political career.
The Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division is handling the investigation on Sumabong because Senior Supt. Loot wants to avoid suspicions of bias.
Rep. Clavel Martinez, Tining’s mother, told Sun.Star Cebu in a phone interview last night that she can prove her son is innocent of all the “invented accusations” of Sumabong.
“Gitapok ni namo ang among mga anak. Isip ginikanan nakahibalo mi sa gipangbuhat sa among mga anak (We have gathered our children. As parents, we know what they have done),” she said.
She said a politician is out to destroy Tining’s reputation and spoil hid chances in the congressional race set next year.
Clavel is on her last term as representative of Cebu’s fourth district. (AIV)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 7, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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