Friday, March 07, 2008
Tudela mayor's kin accused of attack on political rival
THREE nephews of the incumbent mayor of Tudela, Camotes Island, Cebu were accused of firing at and throwing a grenade at their political rival.
The incident allegedly occurred last Monday in Barangay Puerto Bello, about 12 kilometers from the town proper.
The attack injured one person.
The suspects also reportedly burned down the pump boat owned by Marlito Montero Sr., 59.
Montero ran for barangay captain last October but lost to the candidate reportedly favored by Mayor Rogelio Baquerpo.
The grenade was allegedly lobbed past 11 p.m. Monday, but a report about it reached the Cebu Provincial Police Office yesterday.
The suspects were identified as Jonathan, Manny and Gerson Baquerpo, nephews of Mayor Baquerpo.
Investigation
An initial investigation by the Tudela Police Station showed that past 5 p.m. Monday, the suspects allegedly harassed and fired at Montero.
Montero escaped unhurt.
Around 11 p.m., Montero and his son, Marlito Jr., were watching a television show when they heard something fall on the roof.
Thinking somebody had stoned their house, Montero went out to check, only to see that a grenade had been lobbed.
Father and son immediately scampered to safety but one of their helpers, Renan Oliveros, had to be rushed to a hospital for an injury in his back.
Montero believes that the three persons who fired at them were the same people that lobbed the grenade.
Pumpboat
Minutes later, Montero’s family received a report that their pump boat, used for fishing and ferrying passengers to Ormoc City, was burned.
Senior Insp. Ramon Ortiz, Tudela Police Station chief, told Sun.Star Superbalita he believes the incidents were related to politics.
Montero ran with the party of former mayor Demetrio Granada but lost.
Ortiz said that of the 11 barangays in the town, three of these, including Puerto Bello, witnessed heated political rivalries.
Montero did not report the incidents to the police station. It was the police that took the effort to investigate after hearing reports about it.
Ortiz said Montero informed him that he is not interested in pressing charges.
Ortiz, however, said he will urge the victim to pursue a complaint. He also plans to call for a dialogue with both parties to prevent retaliatory attacks. (DRT of Sun.Star Superbalita/With JST)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (March 7, 2008 issue)
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