Tuesday, July 10, 2007 Martinez aides, allies grab his camera, laptop; Junie says sorry, he didn’t know
SUN.STAR Cebu chief photographer Alex Badayos was beaten up by a mob of supporters of Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. yesterday afternoon.
Badayos, 45, suffered bruises and cuts in his head, ribs and arms after some 20 men took turns hitting and kicking him at the Bogo City Hall past 3 p.m.
Badayos wanted to take a photo of a ballot box snatched from the hands of Cebu City North District Election Officer Marchel Sarno, who was ordered to take custody of election returns that were needed for the canvassing of votes in Manila.
Supporters tried to block Badayos from going up the stairs to the second floor.
However, he identified himself as a photographer of Sun.Star Cebu.
At this, the mob dragged him from the stairs and took him to the front part of the city hall where they took turns beating him.
They claimed the newspaper has been biased against the Martinezes.
They also seized his digital camera and bag, containing a laptop.
However, the laptop and digital camera were recovered by policemen, who turned the items over to a news crew from GMA 7.
Missing phone
Also, Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria lost a cellular phone issued to him by the Police Regional Office 7.
The Nokia 1100 phone was tucked in his waistband when the mob pressed against the policemen and Sarno.
Valmoria said he lost it in the scuffle.
“We will file appropriate charges in coordination with the Comelec (Commission on Elections). Grave threats, physical injuries...we will consolidate everything. We were planning to leave but they prevented us. You (media) saw what happened,” he told reporters.
However, Valmoria and the policeman he ordered to enter the general services office may be facing criminal and administrative charges.
Martinez announced his intention to file complaints against them.
“They destroyed the door, gisaka sa police as ordered by Valmoria? He cannot do that,” Martinez said. (MEA)
