A losing vice mayoralty candidate in Tudela town and his errand boy were accused of frustrated murder for allegedly trying to kill a supporter of his political rival in the May 2007 elections.
Pablito Diocampo filed a complaint for frustrated murder against defeated vice mayoralty aspirant Levy Labayan and his errand boy, Triponeto del Corro Jr., before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.
Diocampo alleged that sometime in the evening of July 30, he and his friends Ryan Estrera, Ruben Gonzales, Ronelio Orge and Rolito Mariamonte Jr. were buying bread in barangay North Poblacion, Tudela for the wake of his father who passed away earlier that day.
Diocampo said they were on board a multicab he barrowed from Estrera, a barangay councilman of North Poblacion when, upon reaching near the bakery, Labayan and del Corro approached them.
Without any provocation, Labayan allegedly grabbed Diocampo’s collar to force him to go out from the multicab. Diocampo said he was forced to disembark.
According to Diocampo, he even begged from Labayan, whom he described to be drunk, that they will just talk some other times because Labayan was drunk and that he was grieving for the passing of his father.
However, Labayan grabbed his collar and pulled him out of the multicab. Diocampo alleged that Labayan was feeling bitter because of his election defeat.
Diocampo said he tried to free himself and, in the process, Labayan fell on the ground. Labayan’s errand boy allegedly fired at him but missed, the multicab was hit instead.
“He hated anybody whom he believed did not vote for him,” Diocampo said.
Diocampo said Labayan, after seeing him running away, ordered his errand boy to fire another shot.
“Wa maigo, usbi! Patya gyud,” Diocampo recalled Labayan’s order.
Estrera, Gonzales, Orge and Mariamonte, who allegedly witnessed the incident, have executed affidavits in support of the complaint. — Fred P. Languido/LPM