Councilman sued by ex-bodyguard over slay plot

MANILA, Philippines - A barangay councilman’s former bodyguard filed charges against him yesterday for allegedly threatening to kill him when he overheard the councilman plotting to kill the barangay’s incumbent chairman.

Marciano Mangunay Jr. filed grave threat charges against Barangay 176 kagawad Jose Abaca Jr. with the Caloocan regional trial court.

He alleged that he overheard Abaca instructing three unidentified men in the barangay hall last May to assassinate Barangay 176 chairman Joel Bacolod between Aug. 6 and 8, while he was on his way to Aurora province to attend a seminar.

Mangunay said one of the men saw him and told Abaca. The man threatened him that he would be killed if he told anyone about the assassination plot.

 Mangunay said the man came back a few days later and was looking for him. He said he was only saved because he sought the assistance of one of the bodyguards of Bacolod. 

A source at the city hall said Abaca is an ally of a former mayor while Bacolod is a supporter of Mayor Oscar Malapitan.