Thursday, August 21, 2008 2 Baquerfo supporters file attempted murder charges vs. bry. captain, 4 others
THE supporters of Tudela political rivals Rogelio Baquerfo and Demetrio Granada have made their way to court again.
This time, Baquerfo allies - Tudela Peace and Order Council consultant Levy Labayan and job order worker Triponito del Corro - filed a criminal complaint for two counts of attempted murder against five Granada supporters.
Accused are Barangay Captain Lorenzo Solante, of Northern Poblacion, Tudela; Jerwel Loon, allegedly Granada’s bodyguard; Ruben Gonzales, of Barangay General; Barangay Councilor Ryan Estrera of Northern Poblacion; and Pablito Diocampo, alleged mastermind of the hand grenade-throwing incident that blasted part of the Tudela Police Station last July 5.
Complaints
Ten days ago, Diocampo and Estrera filed criminal complaints against Labayan and del Corro for attempted murder and malicious mischief for a shooting incident last July 30.
The complaint filed yesterday by Labayan and del Corro stemmed from the same event, telling a different tale of what happened that day.
Labayan narrated that on the morning of July 30, he and some job order workers hired by the municipality made their way to Cebu City to pick up supplies for Tudela public schools. The supplies were from the Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Labayan said their trip was an order from Baquerfo.
However, six men, allegedly Granada’s bodyguards, arrived at the governor’s office ahead of them. Loon was among the six.
Labayan said that the governor’s employees refused to give the supplies to Loon’s group. Labayan was able to claim the supplies because the employees reportedly recognized his group as being “on official travel.”
Supplies
That afternoon, Labayan, del Corro and their group returned to Tudela and distributed the supplies to different schools, beginning with Tudela Central School.
That evening, Labayan and del Corro were driving down Northern Poblacion when they met Diocampo at a street corner, driving a multicab.
Diocampo allegedly got out of the vehicle and grumbled about Labayan’s camp getting the school supplies from the governor. Diocampo said he was on his way to buy bread, as his father had just died.
Diocampo also reportedly accused Labayan’s camp of waiting for him in ambush.
Labayan said he tried to pacify Diocampo, saying in Bisaya, “Let’s not trouble the town. We won’t gain anything from this. Demet (Granada) will only laugh.”
Labayan and his companions proceeded to his house and ate dinner. Twenty minutes later, Diocampo arrived outside, shouting threats and firing shots. Peeping outside, Labayan reportedly saw Diocampo, Estrera, Loon and Gonzales standing and carrying firearms.
Companions
They reportedly punched and threw empty bullet shells at two of Labayan’s companions, Jonathan Bugaslao and Jojo Fernandez.
Twice the following day, Solante reportedly stopped outside Labayan’s house, fired a warning shot, shouted and sped away.
Labayan alleged that Diocampo and Gonzales did the same thing several times.
Vilsantuce Belacho of Northern Poblacion, executed an affidavit saying that he saw Estrera, Diocampo and Solante bringing along guns and firing them. (KAB)
