Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Barangay chief’s husband accuses police of asking for money
THE husband of a barangay captain arrested for being caught tallying masiao results plans to file a counter charge against members of the raiding unit. He also accused them of asking money from him in exchange for her release.
Ruben Villamora, husband of Panadtaran, Argao Barangay Captain Pacita Villamora, said his wife is innocent and not involved in any illegal numbers game operation.
Operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Branch served a search warrant issued by Judge Geraldine Faith Econg against Pacita Saturday night.
In an interview with GMA 7’s Balitang Bisdak at the Talisay City Police Station’s detention cell, Villamora said he was made to go to the PIB office Sunday noon to negotiate the release of some of the arrested persons.
He identified PO3 Jonah Rey Barangan as the one who asked for P100,000. He also said the team took P30,000 cash from their store, which were the week’s sales.
Pacita still refused to be interviewed.
Getting back
However, Chief Insp. Elma delos Santos said the claim was just a move to get back at police because of the arrest.
Delos Santos, PIB chief, led the operatives in serving the search warrant last Saturday.
She said it was Ruben who first offered P60,000 for the release of all those arrested. He reportedly went to the PIB office Sunday to make the offer but she was not around. So he spoke to Barangan.
“Wa man ko nisugot,” delos Santos said.
She said the rented stall could not have incurred sales amounting to P30,000 because it was not big enough.
Earlier, she told Sun.Star Cebu that they sold only ice and small snack items while the rest of the space was for the staff members who tallied the masiao results.
Delos Santos said rumors spread in Argao town that reached Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Carmelo Valmoria about the PIB demanding P250,000.
The reports reached Valmoria, who was attending a civil military and police forum in the town.
A case was filed against Villamora and her workers before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
Complaint
If proven that she is a coordinator of the illegal numbers game “masiao,” Pacita may face ten to twelve years in prison.
Pacita is facing a criminal complaint for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9287 or An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Number Games.
In an affidavit, the arresting officers asked the court to allow them to seize Pacita’s Pajero, which was mentioned in their application for search warrant.
In the joint affidavit issued by PO3 Reynaldo Solante and PO2 Tiburcio Heramil, the policemen said Pacita “was very quick” to hide her Pajero’s key.
Since Argao is far from Cebu City, they didn’t tow the vehicle.
“In view of the preceding predicament, we pray to the court... (that) an order be issued authorizing us to forcibly seize said vehicle and… bring (it) to the Honorable Court for evidentiary purposes,” they said.
Raid
The search warrant issued by Argao Regional Trial Court Judge Geraldine Faith Econg zoned in on Pacita’s rented stall at the Argao Public Market as the place for the masiao operation.
The raiding team confiscated P5,263 worth of bills and coins believed to be masiao proceeds.
The team also seized eight masiao stubs, two jai-alai tip sheets, at least 59 masiao tally sheets and seven calculators.
Also cited in the complaint is Pacita’s alleged masiao staff - twins Michael and Markim Gegremosa, Isabelo Remoroza, Del Bajenting, Helen Puerto and Cipriano Tampoy.
The complaint was filed yesterday at the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor. A criminal complaint goes through a prosecutor before it gets elevated to court as a criminal charge or gets dismissed.
Under RA 9287, a person found to be part of the staff operating masiao may face six to eight years in jail. (MEA/KAB)
