2 facing raps for assaulting tanods

CEBU – Two residents in Balamban end up facing criminal complaints before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office after they allegedly assaulted a barangay tanod who requested them to lower their voices so as not to disturb the neighborhood.

Charles Suico and Janwil Cristoria were drinking in a hut along the road in barangay Aliwanay, Balamban when the group of chief tanod Dioscero Lape passed by during a routine patrol before midnight on August 10.

Lape said that Cristoria was shouting very loud several times, prompting him to approach them and requested to lower down his voice so as not to disturb those who were already sleeping.

But Suico allegedly intervened and shouted at him instead, challenging him to a fistfight.

Lape said he also positioned to defend himself from Suico’s fistic blows but the latter’s mother and wife timely grabbed Suico, preventing him to pursue his aggression.

According to Lape, he and his men tried to avoid further trouble because he noticed that the two were already drunk. However, the two allegedly followed them as they walked towards their outpost.

Lape said that Suico again attacked him but was again prevented by his mother and wife, while Cristoria threatened to throw stones at the tanods.

Lape said that he hid himself behind an electric post before he finally escaped from his attackers to avoid other people from being hit by the stones.

Instead of fighting back at his attackers, Lape decided to file criminal complaints for direct assault against Suico and Cristoria before the prosecutors’ office. —Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)