INVESTIGATION is ongoing following the mauling of a university professor by four individuals allegedly campaigners of a congressional candidate of Baguio City.
In a blotter report coming from Baguio City Police Office Station 5, the victim was identified as Lee Jalique Javellana, 42, teacher and a resident of Campo Sioco Happy Homes Ferdinand Barangay, while the suspects were Ansar Giling Abalos, businessman with three unidentified male personalities.
Investigation revealed the incident happened April 24 when the victim arrived at his residence and saw various campaign posters hung on their gate without permission forcing him to remove the posters.
Returning after a few minutes, Javellana saw the suspects and asked who hung the posters and asked his neighbors to not block their gate.
The suspects apparently got irked and allegedly punched Javellana while the three other unidentified companions of Abalos aided one another in mauling him until he lost consciousness.
Responding personnel of Station 5 led by Police Lieutenant Harrison Basinga brought the victim to the hospital for medical treatment and subsequently referred to a local hospital where he was confined.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan meanwhile ordered an investigation on the mauling incident between neighbors now linked to politics.
“Regardless if he (suspect) is a (Domogan) supporter or not, I have asked the police to investigate this,” Domogan said, adding the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) has been asked to give protection to the victim who just came out of the intensive care unit of a local hospital.
The mayor said there is no way of knowing if the suspect is indeed a campaign supporter as numerous volunteers have pledged support for his election bid.
Domogan said there is no order for his volunteers to fight with residents refusing to put up campaign streamers on their gates.
The mayor also defended campaign strategies used by his group to woo voters by sending letters as a legal way to campaign, adding there is no invasion of privacy in the act as information is readily available at the Commission on Elections.
The letters contain the full name and address of the voter, with voter identification number and precinct and polling place, delivered house to house by supporters with a with a short appeal to vote and make a difference for the city and the country.
The letters bares the signature of Domogan, his bid for the congressional seat and his number in the ballot, also stapled with the letter is a flyer.
“What difference is this with tarpaulins and text messages? Hindi bawal ito, it even guides you on where to vote,” Domogan said.
Acting City Director Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said the case is still under the process of investigation and could not be tagged as an election related incident.
“As of now, we are still awaiting the result of the ongoing investigation. The suspect once positively identified by the victim will be facing a case of frustrated homicide,” Co said.