Child abuse charges filed vs. former Carbon market chief

The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has filed a case for child abuse against former Carbon Market administrator Valeriano Cugay for threatening an eight-year-old girl with his firearm more than two years ago.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez approved the filing of the information of the case for violation of the Republic Act 7610 against Cugay before the Regional Trial Court. The anti-graft office recommended a P12,000 bail for Cugay’s temporary liberty.

The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Beverly Bisnar whom Cugay allegedly bumped into and then threatened by showing his firearm in the afternoon of March 30, 2005 in Carbon area where the accused is the market chief.

The victim said she was at her grandmother’s store when Cugay passed by very drunk. Cugay was allegedly shouting and kept on showing his firearm, causing trauma to the victim. When the victim’s mother arrived, the child ran to her side while Cugay allegedly drew his gun and forcibly bumped into the child and her mother. Cugay allegedly ran to his house when he learned that the police were coming. The responding policemen reportedly failed to confiscate Cugay’s firearm for he was able to hide it before the police arrived.

Cugay denied the charges saying he unintentionally bumped into the child who was allegedly running around with other children. He likewise denied carrying a firearm during the incident since he allegedly did not have one.

However, the anti-graft office, through graft investigator Corazon Arnado-Carillo, did not give credence to his defense. The Ombudsman found out that Cugay and the family of the victim has an existing land dispute, which the investigator believed to be sufficient motive for Cugay to do the acts he is accused of.

Carillo added that it is also unlikely for a child to make up stories against a known toughie in the area who carries a gun. Carillo said Cugay’s claim that he does not own a gun is belied by a warrant of arrest against him issued by Municipal Trial Court in Cities judge Gil Acosta for illegal discharge of firearm. - Fred P. Languido/QSB