Generoso Cuneta, erstwhile barangay chairman and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, was charged Wednesday by Olegario Reyes, chairman of Barangay 198, Zone 20 with physical injury and slander.
Senior Police Officer 1 Daniel Ocampo, case investigator of the Pasay City police Criminal Investigation Division (CID), said he learned that Reyes decided to file the case directly with the prosecutor’s office even as police were about to file it.
"The statement has already been prepared, but Mr. Reyes didn’t sign it. I learned that he has filed the case directly with the prosecutor’s office. I still don’t know why," Ocampo said yesterday.
He said Reyes reported a slander case against Cuneta last Oct. 4. The incident supposedly happened outside Cuneta’s office at the fourth floor of city hall.
Reyes claimed that Cuneta also punched him but Ocampo said he did not see any signs of injury. Reyes also showed a medical report from the Pasay City General Hospital, which indicated no signs of injuries, he added.
Ocampo said he was supposed to recommend only a slander case against Cuneta based on Reyes’ complaint.
In his complaint, Reyes claimed Cuneta invited him over to talk about the forthcoming Liga elections scheduled on Oct. 21.
Cuneta is reportedly running for re-election. Reyes is said to be a supporter of Cuneta’s strongest opponent, Richard Advincula, Barangay 26, Zone 4 chairman, and a son of City Councilor Eduardo Advincula.
The meeting allegedly resulted in the punching incident. The STAR tried but failed to reach Cuneta for comment.