Losing VM cries attempted murder

The losing vice mayoralty candidate in Tudela who was earlier charged with frustrated murder for allegedly trying to kill a supporter of his political nemesis filed a counter-charge for attempted murder against his accuser and four others, including a barangay captain.

Levy Labayan and his errand boy Triponito del Corro Jr. have turned the table against Pablito Diocampo, who earlier charged them with frustrated murder before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.

Labayan and del Corro also included North Poblacion barangay captain Lorenzo Solante, Ryan Estrera, Jerwel Loon and Ruben Gonzales in the complaints for two counts of attempted murder.

The case stemmed from the same incident which Diocampo used in filing a complaint for frustrated murder against the complainants.

Labayan, who serves as peace and order consultant of Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo, said that in the morning of July 30, he and some job order employees were ordered by the mayor to fetch the school supplies donated by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

However, the bodyguards of Demetrio Granada, who claims to be the legitimate mayor of Tudela based on court decision, were already ahead of them to claim the school supplies.

But Granada’s bodyguards failed to get the donation because it was not given to them by the Capitol employees who delivered it.

After sending off the Capitol employees in Poro, Labayan and Del Corro met Diocampo on their way home. At that incident, Labayan said Diocampo accused them of blocking their way.

Few minutes later, Labayan said Diocampo, Estrera, Loon and Gonzales fired at them while they were having dinner. On the following day, Solante also allegedly fired a shot in front of Labayan’s house.

According to Labayan and del Corro, there were other incidents that the respondents passed by their houses brandishing their firearms. 

Diocampo earlier charged Labayan and del Corro with frustrated murder for allegedly trying to kill him.

According to Diocampo, in the evening of July 30, he and his friends Ryan Estrera, Ruben Gonzales, Ronelio Orge and Rolito Mariamonte Jr. went to buy bread in barangay North Poblacion, Tudela for the vigil of his father who passed away earlier that day.

Diocampo said they were onboard a multicab he borrowed from Estrera, a barangay councilman of North Poblacion. Upon reaching near the bakery, Labayan and del Corro approached them.

Without any provocation, Labayan allegedly grabbed Diocampo’s collar to force him to go out of the multicab.

Diocampo said he tried to free himself and in the process, Labayan fell on the ground. Labayan’s errand boy then allegedly fired at him but hit the multicab instead.

Diocampo said Labayan, after seeing him running away, ordered his errand boy to fire another shot. — Fred P. Languido/LPM