Thursday, April 26, 2007
Byron files robbery case v. 2 human rights lawyers
CAPITOL consultant on security Byron Garcia yesterday charged two human rights lawyers with robbery and attempted robbery.
Byron, brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, filed the charges against lawyers Rex Fernandez and Noemi Abarientos. The two lawyers refused to comment on the charges yesterday saying they will issue their statements in a press conference scheduled for today.
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Byron said the two lawyers were able to extort P100,000 from him “through intimidation and threats.”
He said that sometime in February 2005, he received a call from someone who identified himself as a member of the New People’s Army (NPA). The person allegedly told him to contact Fernandez to avoid acts of violence against him and his family.
Byron said he immediately called up Fernandez and discussed how to settle the issue.
Fernandez, according to Byron, told him to prepare a “token of donation” to their group and let them handle the catering services inside the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Byron said Fernandez asked for an M-16 rifle as his fee.
Garcia said that days later, he met with Fernandez again and gave him P50,000 as donation.
During the meeting, Fernandez allegedly demanded for certain inmate privileges and a public apology from the governor. Fernandez also allegedly asked Byron to issue a public apology for preventing Abarientos from visiting her client, Edgardo Sacamay, sometime in 2004.
Byron said that some days later, Fernandez allegedly informed him of the NPA’s updated demands, which included five M16 Armalite rifles, five M14 rifles, night vision equipment, sniper’s scope and half a million pesos.
Fernandez allegedly withdraw his demand for a rifle as his fee and instead asked for P50,000, which Garcia gave.
Byron recorded a conversation with Fernandez and submitted it as part of the evidence attached to his complaint.
He said he kept silent about the activities for so long because he does not want trouble.
In an interview conducted earlier, Fernandez admitted he received P50,000 from Garcia and that he called Garcia to convey the demands of the rebels for firearms and money.
Fernandez explained that it was Garcia who wanted to have contracts with the NPA because he was scared something will happen to him. (KNT)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 26, 2007 issue)
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