TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The son of the administrator of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) has filed charges of attempted murder, violation of the election gun ban and obstruction of justice against Sta. Ana Mayor Darwin Tobias and several others.
The case against Tobias was filed by Louise Philippe Ponce, son of CEZA chief Jose Marie Ponce whose policies were criticized by the mayor.
Aside from the younger Ponce, who ran but lost to Tobias in the last elections, among the complainants were his supporters Ace Vergara, Jose Gavino and Rene Liban.
The complainants alleged that Tobias’ men fired at them in front of Ponce’s campaign headquarters in Barangay Sta. Cruz on May 12.
The complaint said Tobias defied an order of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to surrender the two vehicles allegedly used by his men during the incident.