Pangasinan mayor charged for beating rival’s supporters

DASOL, Pangasinan, Philippines – Criminal charges were filed yesterday against the mayor of this town and his four companions for allegedly beating five supporters of his opponent in the mayoral race.

Mayor Noel Nacar and his companions -- engineer Amado Balaoing, Reynaldo Balaoing, Romeo Verzosa and Jesus Reyes --  were charged with physical injuries, grave threats and malicious mischief by complainants Robert Canilang, Archie Nomus, Roger Valderama, Pedro Balatico and Robert Naranja.

Benjamin delos Santos, counsel for the complainants, told journalists that the case was filed by the Team Papagkaduwa Inc. Dasol (Unity) to ensure that the supporters of mayoral candidate Eric Verzosa would get justice.

The incident on April 1, reportedly stemmed from the removal of posters of Team Papagkaduwa by  members of the Liberal Party-United Nationalist Alliance team in Barangay Malimpin.

A volunteer group of motorcycle riders campaigning for Verzosa responded to the report and proceeded to Malimpin plaza where Nacar was having his rally. However, trouble broke out between the rival groups, which reportedly resulted in the beating of five supporters of Verzosa by a group allegedly led by Nacar.

Delos Santos said they may also file “possible cases with the Commission on Elections for electoral offenses aside from administrative charges before the Ombudsman.”

Canilang said Nacar   berated and threatened to kill them. 

Delos Santos said four policemen executed affidavits to attest to the alleged incident.

In a phone interview with The STAR, Nacar cried harassment and said he also filed charges yestedat against seven persons, including the complainants.

He said he could present as many as 50 persons to testify against his accusers.

But Nacar, president of the Pangasinan Mayors’ League, could not recall the exact charges, saying the papers were in his lawyer’s possession.

He said he would hold a press conference today so his constituents would know the truth about the incident.

He said the Liga ng Barangay in his town had passed a resolution denouncing the presence of the motorcycle-riding supporters of Verzosa, son of retired Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa.