Man accuses Bogo mayor of harassment

A member of a paralegal team of an organization tasked to oversee the conduct of the recent elections in the fourth district accused Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junnie” Martinez Jr. of harassment.

 Thomas Ignacio Hermosilla, 43, of barangay Agujo, Daanbantayan town, told the Bogo City police that while he was outside the vicinity of Cayang Elementary School, Martinez together with several persons approached and asked him what he has been doing.

 “Nag-unsa man ka dire? Ug dili ka motubag kulatahon tika dire ug isulod og sako. Wa ba ka kahibawo nga bag-o pang gipatay ang kapitan dire? Basin ikaw ang isunod,” Hermosilla quoted the mayor as telling him.

Hermosilla, in his report to the Bogo City police, said he only kept silent and left the place during the confrontation.

But in his report to Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria, Bogo City Police Station chief Arturo Pacifico said he and the augmentation force led by Insp. Amadeo Pepito immediately went to barangay Cayang to verify the incident.

While there, some residents in the area told the authorities that they were alarmed when two unidentified persons entered the Cayang barangay hall at about 9:30 a.m.

Barangay captain Alexander Estrella, the replacement of the slain barangay captain and who was also seeking for the same post, then asked the names of the two men and their motives in going inside the barangay hall.

Because the two men failed to divulge their identities, Estrella and his supporters then reported the incident to Martinez. When Martinez arrived at the barangay hall, he allegedly confronted the two in an angry manner.

Further investigations conducted by Pacifico stated that the witnesses said the two then identified themselves as lawyer Allan Talisaysay of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Regie Maamo.

Pacifico, in his report to Valmoria, said the commotion could have been due to a miscommunication, adding that he failed to get the side of Martinez as the mayor had already left when they arrived in the area.

Pacifico said when they returned at about 10:15 a.m., Hermosilla was already at their station to report his encounter with Martinez.

Pacifico said although he has only seen the two persons earlier reported by the residents of Cayang, he has not seen Hermosilla when they rushed to the area. But he referred Hermosilla’s case to Bogo City election officer Jose Barriga.

Barriga advised Hermosilla to file a formal complaint before his office. – Flor Z. Perolina/LPM