Lagtang councilman assaulted young vendor?

CEBU, Philippines – A newly reelected barangay councilman of Lagtang, Talisay City has been accused by an 18-year-old vendor of direct assault.

Delmar Villena, 18, of Negros Oriental, accused barangay councilman Wilson Alferez of shoving him to the ground last Tuesday night.

Villena, in an interview with the media, said he was on his way to a convenience store in sitio Ilang-ilang, Lagtang where he is staying, to buy ice water when he met down the road Alferez who he alleged was drunk.

Alferez reportedly confronted him.

Alferez's wife, Jaypee, had to tell him that the young boy was a vendor of Doni Cabuenas.

Alferez however did not hear his wife and allegedly made bodily contact as he passed by Villena, sending him to the ground.

Villena said because of the impact and the fact that Alferez swept his arm to his neck, he fell to an empty open canal.

Villena said he got back to his feet but Alferez's two bodyguards held both his shoulders as if to stop him if he was planning to attack the barangay councilman.

The young boy said he heard Alferez telling him: "Pahawa nalang, dong," pertaining to his stay at his father-in-law's house. Villena along with three other vendors of Cabuenas were housed in Alferez's wife's father's house, which is just in the same compound of the couple's residence.

Because of the incident, Villena said he forgot about the ice water and instead walked back home, where Jaypee followed him and told him: "Ayaw pag among-among sa imung agalon."

Jaypee had also reportedly advised the boy to shut down all lights of the house as her husband might come back for him.

Villena said he had no recollection if he had offended Alferez.

According to City Councilor Semy Cabuenas, Alferez, whose wife is his cousin, has had history of violence especially when drunk.

Alferez has a pending case with the office of the Ombudsman-Visayas after he went amok at a barbecue station last March.

He was also almost sued early this year after he threatened a Talisay City traffic police who refused to listen to his complaint, which happened in Minglanilla town.

In both incidents, Alferez was allegedly drunk.

Meanwhile, Villena was supposed to meet Alferez for a hearing Wednesday night at the barangay, but the councilman, who was elected number seven last October 25, did not show up. (FREEMAN)