'Kidnapping' of Lagumen's son-in-law, 'Politics' eyed

WAS the "kidnapping" incident involving the son-in-law of a former administration ally politically- motivated?

This question has surfaced following statements from the camp of Cagayan de Oro Representative Rolando Uy (1st district-Lakas-Kampi-CMD) that

the December 28 abduction of Erwin Marcelo is linked to "politics."

Marcelo is the husband of Celeste Marie Lagumen, daughter of Barangay Canitoan Chairperson Marlyn Lagumen who has allied with Representative

Uy-a mayoral candidate in the 2010 elections.

Lagumen has formerly allied with Vice Mayor Vicente Emano, who is seeking the mayorship again after completing three terms in 2007.

Barangay Gusa Chairman Enrico Salcedo, Uy's de facto campaign spokesman, has requested that the Cagayan de Oro Police City Office (Cocpo)

keep its hands off the incident, alleging that the prime suspect was well-connected.

"Kanang dili sakop sa Cocpo ang mag-investigate, labina nga duna na kami suspetsado ug bug-at gayud ang suspetsado," said Salcedo in an

interview with RMN-dxCC over the weekend.

The incident, he said, was "another form of political harassment" to intimidate the supporters of Uy, who is considered as Emano's strongest

rival in the mayoral race.

Although the barangay official gave no hints other than being masterminded by someone influential, linking the incident to politics was

enough to elicit response from Mayor Constantino Jaurala.

But Mayor Jaraula dismissed the possibility as way of political harassment against the opposition particularly to the family of Lagumen.

"Dili sab tingali kay dili kana madala sa pamolitika. Una, makadaut sa imahe sa dakbayan," Mayor Jaraula said. "Dili maayo nga mamasangil

kita."

The mayor also said the police had yet to inform him of the incident.

Police Officer 3 Melchor Barcubero of Bulua Police Station said Marcelo had gone missing in the afternoon of December 28. His family said he

was in Barangay Carmen at that time to retrieve his motorcycle from a repair shop.

Police said his wife, Celeste, had only reported the incident the next day, thinking that her husband was with his friends.

The cell phone message, according the policeman, was: "Kunin mo ako dito sa Divisoria takot na takot ako." The wife then called up the victim

and proceeded to the Divisoria area, where she found him pale and speechless.

"Nakita namo siya sa Divisoria Kiosk nga murag wala sa kaugalingon, dili halos motingog unya taas kaayo og hilanat," added Barcubero.

Marcelo was rushed in a hospital in Barangay Carmen where he was confined for two nights. He would not speak to policemen about the incident,

prompting probers to halt the investigation, according to Barcubero.

Barangay Chairperson Lagumen could not reach for comment about the possible motive of the incident as of this writing

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