Taguig bet's supporter beats up village watchman

MANILA, Philippines - A supporter of Taguig District 2 congressional candidate Angelito “Jett” Reyes reportedly beat up a village watchman during a motorcade in Barangay Western Bicutan yesterday morning.

A police report said Noel Bretaña, 53, deputy chief of Western Bicutan’s Barangay Security Force, was punched in the forehead by suspect Alex Muhamad Ali Makalilay, 50, a tricycle driver from Maharlika Village.

Bretaña reprimanded Makalilay when the latter destroyed a tarpaulin of the Kilusang Diwa ng Taguig (KDT), a known rival of Reyes’s political party.

When Makalilay was brought to the Western Bicutan barangay hall for questioning, other supporters of Reyes barged into the barangay office, witnesses said.

They said a certain retired Army general, “Bravo,” who works for the Department of Energy; and two unnamed retired Army officials arrived and tried to intervene in the case.

Barangay chairman Danilo Rivera said the retired Army officials allegedly offered money to barangay officials who apprehended the suspect and even tried to bribe the victim to settle the case.

He also alleged that Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, father of Jett Reyes, called and tried to intimidate barangay officials into releasing Makalilay.

“If you don’t want to settle, it’s up to you because they are Muslims,” Rivera quoted Reyes as saying when told that Bretaña plans to sue Makalilay.

Taguig Mayor Sigfrido Tiñga condemned the attack, and called on Reyes and his supporters not to resort to force and intimidation.

Bretaña, together with fellow Barangay Security Force members Nestor Molino and Samier Daguit, have filed a complaint with the Taguig City police against Makalilay, who is currently under police custody.

The younger Reyes said they are conducting their own investigation of the incident.

“If we find out that my supporter is the one at fault, we will not tolerate him. Although initially, he (Makalilay) denied the accusation. He said he did not destroy the tarpaulin and accidentally held onto it during the motorcade,” Reyes said.

He added Makalilay claimed he was the one who had been abused, not Bretaña.