THEY WERE ASLEEP: Palcuto's lawyer denies accusations of mauling

CEBU, Philippines - The lawyer of the vice mayoralty candidate in Cebu City, whose alleged goons and son we reported to have mauled a partylist bet, denied the accusations hurled against his client.

Lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva, who represents Rico Palcuto and his son, Supt. Ariel Palcuto, said that the two were not even in the area where the alleged mauling took place.

Salva said that he can attest to that as he was in the residence of the Palcutos at 10 p.m. last Saturday and left when the elder Palcuto went to bed.

“Didto ko sa ila pagka alas 10 ana sa gabii ug niuli rasab pagkatulog nila ni sir ug sir Ariel”, Salva said.

Salva admitted that the Paclutos own a Honda CRV, but the color of their vehicle is not black and the plate number that the accusers gave to the Mabolo Police does not match.

The fourth nominee of the Kabataan Partylist, Renil Oliva, alleged that he and a companion were mauled by Palcuto’s supporters, who alleged that they tore off the posters of the vice mayoralty candidate.

Oliva said that, a person wearing a white shirt with a gun tucked on his waist, who he later identified as Supt. Palcuto, was the one who accused them.

Salva said that her went to the area where the alleged mauling took place along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave., but found no posters of the partylist group in that area.

The lawyer, who claims to treat the elder Palcuto as like a father, said that he thinks the partylist group is only after media mileage.

He said that he did not even see posters of known leftist personalities running for national positions like Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza in that area.

The lawyer has taken pictures of the place to prove his claim. He said that the elder Palcuto is very upset about the accusations.

Oliva said that he was with Bryan Laguna, a volunteer of their partylist group, when they stopped in front of PopCom Office to check the campaign materials posted by their companions.

They were in front the compound of the lechon business owned by the elder Palcuto, a retired police officer, when a black Honda CRV arrived.

Oliva claimed that two men alighted from the vehicle, one was described to be in his late 40s and the other one, they believe, looked like a teen-aged boy, Oliva said.

Oliva also claimed that the man, who he said was Supt. Palcuto, called the employees of the lechon business and these people ganged up on him.

Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), has ordered Mabolo Police Station chief David Senor to conduct further investigation.

Comendador said the plate number of the Honda CRV should be checked first with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Mabolo police operatives are also looking for witnesses to confirm the incident.

Comendador said that if there would be enough evidence to prove the allegations against the Palcutos then charges will be filed.

Salva said that they are ready to answer the allegations and added that the camp of Palcuto is also contemplating on filing libel charges against the Kabataan Partylist members.   (FREEMAN NEWS)