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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Mayor keeps hands off KTV bar shooting
By Edwin G. Espejo
MAYOR Pedro Acharon said on Tuesday that he was not involving himself in the investigation to the deadly shooting last Wednesday that involved his nephew.
Acharon said he was leaving it up to the court to decide on the fate of all those involved in the shooting at the Don's KTV Bar where an influential businessman shot dead a barangay councilman.
Acharon's nephew Ricardo 'Dodong' Acharon was in the company of Barangay North Kagawad Rubencito Mejia when the latter was gunned down inside the videoke bar.
"Barkada kasi sila (They are friends). We cannot prevent them from going there," Acharon said.
"Kung ano man ang atraso nila doon, hindi ko alam iyon (Whatever was the cause of the trouble, I have no knowledge)," he added.
Acharon added that police authorities should strictly implement the gun ban inside entertainment houses.
"(The ban on) bringing firearms inside establishments is a long standing order," he reminded the police here.
Mejia and Dodong Acharon, along with Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr. and two other companions, figured in a scuffle with Army Cpl. Cesar Garcia at the lounge of Don's KTV bar Wednesday evening.
Businessman Richard Garcia, brother of the Army soldier, shot Mejia with a .45 caliber pistol after he saw his brother being ganged up by the companions of the victim.
Garcia was apprehended by Army soldiers at the parking lot of East Asia Royal hotel minutes after the incident.
Garcia introduced himself to Col. Edgardo Gurrea, head of Joint Task Force Gensan who accosted him, as a police major assigned to the regional intelligence and investigation division of Police Regional Office in Region 12 (PRO 12).
PRO 12 regional director Chief Supt. Rodolfo Tor, however, claimed Garcia is not listed in the roster of the Philippine National Police.
Meanwhile, Acharon said he is looking into reports that Supt. Pierre Bucsit, PRO 12 intelligence chief, and another policeman were with Garcia when the incident happened.
"Nanduon daw sa loob (He was reportedly inside). Pero walang gustong lumabas para magsabi na (But nobody would attest that) this person was really inside," the city mayor said.
"We will just leave it to what has been filed (in court)," he added.
Meanwhile, members of the City Council said they would summon entertainment operators to explain why the gun ban is not being implemented in their establishments.
"We will summon them and asked why they are not implementing the ordinance which prohibits customers from bringing in their guns," Councilor Jose Marie Natividad, chairman of the SP games and amusement committee, said.
Natividad also said he would ask security agencies in the city to appear in the council committee hearing.
(June 25, 2003 issue)
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