Jun Pe accused of threatening his former driver

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. is accused of threatening to kill his former driver for allegedly exposing that he is doing business in the Cebu City Jail.

Pe allegedly suspected that it was Roldan Surela, 32, his former driver, who squealed that the councilor is supplying rice and other commodities to the inmates of the Cebu City Jail.

Pe did not confirm nor deny this report.

Cebu City Jail Warden Johnson Calub, when sought for comment, just said, “I already gave instructions to the kitchen in-charge that if it is true (that Pe is supplying rice and commodities), it has to stop.”

Calub reportedly made this assurance to Mayor Michael Rama when he paid a courtesy call after he assumed his post.

Matters concerning the Cebu City Jail are being handled by the committee on public order and safety, which Pe chairs.

Surela reported the alleged threat at the Cebu City Intelligence Branch with

Mabini Barangay Captain Rey Oybenes and one Dennis Caminade as his witnesses.

Surela’s employment contract with the Cebu City Government as Pe’s driver was not  renewed when it expired last December.

Surela narrated that on Jan. 2, at around 7 p.m., he was having a conversation with Oybenes and Caminade in Barangay Talamban when he saw the Pe’s service vehicle approaching.

He quickly hid about five meters away because he already knew that Pe, a Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) candidate for councilor in the city’s south district, is harboring a grudge against him.

Surela claimed he heard Pe and his witnesses talking.

 â€œAko g’yud na tumbahon si Roldan kay maoy misumbong sa akong negosyo,” Pe reportedly told Oybenes and Caminade.

Surela said even if Pe did not categorically say that he would kill him, he believes that the term “tumbahon” meant Pe would kill him.

Personnel of the CCPO Intelligence Division reportedly did not allow reporters to check the blotter containing Surela’s complaint.

But Mayor Michael Rama said the police should not hide it from the media as the police blotter is a public record.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said the alleged threat that Pe made must be looked into.

Pe refused to comment on Surela’s accusation and just said Surela must formalize his complaint.

“Blotter ra man na. Ma-consider ra na nga hearsay. Unya na lang ko motubag kon duna nay formal complaint,” said Pe.

Pe is on his last term as councilor of Cebu City’s north district.  However, he transferred registration to the south district and filed a certificate of candidacy for councilor under BOPK.

Ronald Diola, one of the candidates for councilor under Team Rama in the south district, filed a petition before the Commission on Elections asking for the nullification of Pe’s candidacy.

The Comelec head office in Manila is yet to resolve the issue. —/MBG (FREEMAN)