Friday, November 30, 2007 Cagas denies mauling barangay chief By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO del Sur Governor Douglas Ra Cagas vehemently denied he choked and mauled a barangay captain from Sta. Cruz last week.
In a text message Tuesday evening, Cagas blamed his political enemies for "fabricating" such report. He said a few of his enemies just wanted him dead soon thus the accusations hurled against him.
"There was no mauling. Many friends love me and want me to live longer, my few enemies want me dead soon," the governor said.
Asked why it took him so long to deny the alleged incident during the mass oath taking of newly elected barangay officials of Sta. Cruz, Cagas said he was "very busy serving his people in the mountain areas."
Pressed to reveal more details of what really happened, Cagas no longer replied to this reporter.
Many witnesses in the incident said Cagas slapped and boxed physically handicapped Sinuron barangay captain Henry Lim.
Cagas reportedly arrived in Sta. Cruz Friday morning to officiate the oath taking of barangay officials in the municipality.
As the governor was about to go up the stage, Lim went up to Cagas to shake his hands.
The governor, without any provocation, reportedly choked and boxed Lim in front of the shocked crowd. A police officer reportedly tried to stop Cagas from further harming the barangay captain but he too was said to have been threatened by the governor.
"Pulis ka tapos musukol ka sa governor?" Cagas allegedly shouted at the police officer. (You’re a policeman and you’ll go against the governor.)
Lim, who suffered from a stroke few years back, was said to be bleeding after the attack and hurriedly left the venue contrary to earlier reports that the barangay captain stayed and finished the event.
It was said Cagas was angered by Lim's decision not to support the governor's bet for ABC president in the town. Lim is said to be a staunch supporter of Cagas' political rival, the Bautistas.
