BOGO ELECTION DAY STANDOFF: Police may testify vs. Martinezes

CEBU, Philippines - After failing to file charges against the Martinezes for the election day standoff in Bogo City, the police may stand as witnesses to the charges that have filed against the Martinezes by congressman-elect Benhur Salimbangon of the fourth district.

Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot, deputy regional director for operation, said if they will be asked by the court to testify then they are willing to do so.

Loot, during the Talakayan Sa Isyung Pulis yesterday, said that they still have to gather all statements of witnesses to the incident so that they can proceed with the filing of charges against the Martinezes.

Major Christopher Tampus, in an interview over DYSS, also said the AFP will also testify and submit their affidavits if needed.Some members of 78th Infantry Battalion were also there during the incident.

Earlier, Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, director of Police Regional Office-7 eyed an illegal detention case against Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. and all those who took part in the nine-hour standoff.

Aside from Martinez and the members of the City Anti-Crime Task Force of Bogo the police are also planning to include in the complaint the owners of the private vehicles that were used as barricades.

Martinez’ supporters blocked the vehicles of Salimbangon last May 10 in Barangay Pulangbato, Bogo City, after accusing the congressman-elect of harassing his supporters and having guns inside their vehicles.

The blockade caused a traffic jam that lasted for nine hours. It only ended after Salimbangon was escorted away by his supporters.

The congressman-elect, along with his relatives and supporters, filed criminal complaints for arbitrary detention and grave coercion against Junie, Vice Mayor Santiago Sevilla, defeated congressional candidate Celestino “Tining” Martinez III, former representative Clavel Asas-Martinez, two of the Martinez’ lawyers Jose Carlo Martinez and Ahmad Clay Escolar and several unidentified persons.

Apart from Salimbangon, the other complainants include his son-in-law Martin Cabatingan, lawyer Ferdinand Pepito, Ronnie Ocampo, Wilfredo Alcordo Jr., Roel Capili, Francisco Balbin and Jeryl Zamora.

Loot also said that Police Regional Office-7 director Lani-O Nerez himself will also stand as a witness to the event.

“We will stand as witnesses once we are summoned by the court. Nerez is also willing to testify,” Loot said. (FREEMAN NEWS)