Wednesday, June 18, 2008 It’s like fighting the gov’t, says pa By Jujemay G. Awit Sun.Star Staff Reporter With Jovy S. Taghoy & Rene H. Martel
ANANIAS Anter feels like he is facing the government in filing charges against the chief tanod of Barangay Ermita, Cebu City who owned up to the fatal shooting of his 14-year-old son.
Anter was obviously upset when a policeman from the Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) informed him that the case cannot be filed in court yet
because the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office wants to complete the evidence they will use against Vicente Beltran Bosque, 48.
A complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide was filed yesterday. At least P8,000 was recommended as bail.
“I’m trying to defend myself here now that my son is dead. My problem is that I’m going against the government,” Anter said in Bisaya when asked why he felt so disappointed when the case was not filed in court.
Anter was also apprehensive that Bosque will go after him for insisting on filing a case even if it was an accident.
Not the suspect
“Don’t be afraid, you are not the suspect,” said a policeman who tried to appease Anter. The same policeman told Anter that Bosque will be detained at the Carbon Police Station.
Anter and Bosque seemed cordial at the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office. While waiting for the filing of the case, Anter and Bosque were seen talking.
Anter, wearing a mourning pin, said he really does not want any kind of conflict against anybody. He just wants justice for his son Junard.
Anter, his wife Luvy who was holding a two-month-old baby, and a daughter, were all at the prosecutor’s office waiting for the filing of the case. Friends surrounded them.
Before the complaint was filed, the Anter couple reportedly almost signed an affidavit of desistance.
Assistant City Prosecutor Rudolf Joseph Carillo, however, explained that a desistance would not legally hold anyway, but might cast doubt on the case.
A friend of the Anter couple said the Anters were not aware of the implications of an affidavit of desistance. It was a good thing that nothing was signed.
On the part of Bosque, he said he did not make any offer for Anter to back down from the case.
“I’m going to bail myself out,” the media-shy Bosque told Sun.Star Cebu in Bisaya. He would not entertain any interviews from reporters.
No settlement
Ermita Barangay Capt. Felicisimo Rupinta also denied trying to settle the case.
“I only offered to help the Anters,” he told reporters yesterday, adding that he is doing so out of sympathy.
Rupinta said in a separate interview that he is related to Anter’s wife, who like him has Cortes for a middle name.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, however, came to Rupinta’s defense, amid allegations that the barangay captain allegedly hesitated in presenting Bosque.
He said that if he were in Rupinta’s position, he would also likely have the same reservation, knowing that the man was just doing his job.
“If I’m the barangay captain, I will confess I will have reluctance also and try to protect the tanod,” Osmeña said, adding that he understood why Rupinta was protective of Bosque.
He said Busque, an award-winning tanod, was “being stupid” in firing his gun even with bystanders around. Bosque, who earns P2,000 monthly and has been a tanod for 23 years, has been awarded “the most outstanding tanod” thrice and has been recognized by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
But, the mayor said, Rupinta could not be faulted for his reluctance in turning the man in.
“I empathize with the way the barangay captain feels,” he said.
Assistance
He also said that the Cebu City Government will provide assistance to the victim’s family.
At the prosecutor’s office yesterday, Rupinta also admitted shelling out some cash for Bosque, whose bail they can officially settle today when the case is filed in court.
While he would support the family in shouldering the burial expenses of Junard, Rupinta said, he will support Bosque in the case.
Junard’s mother Luvy, in a separate interview, said there is no other relief she can hope for on the death of her son but to see the perpetrator behind bars.
“I relied on my son a lot, and losing him pains my family extremely,” she said, sobbing, during the interview.
She said Junard took the responsibility of helping his father in driving a trisikad after finishing elementary school.
