Ex-town vice mayor faces rap

CEBU, Philippines - A criminal complaint for malicious mischief was filed yesterday before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office against the former vice mayor of Sogod town following his arrest Sunday in Barangay Sambag I.

Dean Dosado was arrested by the elements of the Mobile Patrol Group after he was allegedly caught in the act of knocking down the door of the room of Johnson Clark Gayrosaga.

Dosado reportedly forced his way into the room of Gayrosaga and poured the latter with water. Prior to his arrest, Dosado called at the Fuente Police Station to ask for assistance after he was allegedly threatened by Gayrosaga. The former town official was in Gayrosaga’s residence to visit a friend.

Meanwhile, Fuente Police Station chief Wildemar Tiu denied the allegations that one of his men choked and dragged Dosado to force him into the detention cell.

Tiu said Dosado was only assisted by the policeman into the detention cell. The police official said that he also talked to Dosado about it and the latter did not confirm the allegation.

Tiu also defended his men for arresting Dosado, saying they were only doing their job. He said the policemen caught the former official in the act of committing a crime prompting them to arrest him even if he was the one who called for police assistance.

Tiu added that based on their background investigation, Dosado has already a record in Barangay Sambag I.

Dosado’s lawyer, Junjie Manda, questioned that validity of the arrest.

Manda said the police made a shortcut when they arrested his client because the latter should have been turned over to the barangay, which has primary jurisdiction over the issue.  (FREEMAN)