Partylist bet: I was mauled

CEBU, Philippines - The Regional Chairman and 4th nominee of Kabataan partylist group accused the son and alleged goons of vice-mayoralty candidate Rico Palcuto of mauling him and his companion late Saturday night.

Renil Oliva, 26, alleged that they were also accused by a man, who he identified as Supt. Ariel Palcuto, that they tore off the campaign posters of the candidate, who is the father of the police officer.

The incident happened in front of Cebu Country Club along Governor Cuenco Avenue.

Oliva, in an interview with The FREEMAN, said that he was with Bryan Laguna, 23, a volunteer of the partylist group, when they stopped in front of PopCom Office to check on the campaign materials posted by their companions.

They were in front the compound of the lechon business owned by the elder Palcuto, a retired police officer, when a black Honda CRV arrived.

Two men on board alighted from the vehicle, one was described to be in his late 40s and the other one, they believe, looked like a teen-aged boy, Oliva said.

Oliva said that he then saw one of the men, whom he recognized as Supt. Palcuto, who allegedly pulled Laguna towards the car.

“Gibunlot niya akong kauban kay pasudlon sa sakyanan. Iyang giingnan na ‘Pasok sa loob’ kay pulis daw siya. Dayon gipasanginlan na naa daw siya’y mga gipangtangtang na posters ni Palcuto,” Oliva said.

Upon seeing this, Oliva, who was about ten meters away, approached the group to ask what was happening.

“Ingon dayon siya, ‘Pulis ko’. Ako s’ya giingnan na ‘Kung pulis ka sir, ngano naa man ka’y armas nga wala man ka ga-uniform? Violation baya na sa Comelec (Commission on Election)” gun ban,” he said.

Oliva claimed that the man, who he believed was Supt. Palcuto was wearing a white T-shirt with a print of the map of the Philippines and a gun was tucked on his waist.

Oliva also told the man that neither of them took the elder Palcuto’s posters.

In fact, he added, that a person who was waiting for a ride near them testified to the man that they did not tear off any posters in the place.

The two men then went back to the car and then approached other companions of Oliva, who were about 700 meters away.

The group was also asked about the tearing off of the campaign posters of Palcuto, which they also denied and added that they didn’t even know who Rico Paculto is.

Oliva said, “Amo na unta siya balikon ngadto sa lechonan (where he parked his car) pero paspas kaayo siya mipadagan padong namo then paghunong, naa’y mingbira ni Bryan then upat ka-laki ang nagtabang og bukbok niya sa likod then gipakong siya sa hood sa sakyanan. Gi-sumbag sad siya mga napu ka-higayon sa iya kilid.”

The man tagged as Supt. Palcuto also allegedly called the workers of the lechon business to come out and help.

Oliva said that two men also held him then he allegedly heard the man he tagged as the police official order the men to slap his face, which one of the men obliged.

Oliva claimed that he was also punched on the face.

They allegedly heard the man believed to be Ariel Palcuto say “Tama na ‘yan” then they sped towards the fly-over on the way to Cebu City.

The group of Oliva then went to the Mabolo Police Station to report the incident and have it recorded on the blotter.

The victims were also taken to the Cebu City Medical Center for the treatment of the injuries they sustained.

Oliva told The FREEMAN that while they were not yet very sure that it was Supt. Palcuto, the security guard of the lechon business, who denied witnessing the incident, confirmed to them that the car was owned by Rico Palcuto and that the driver was his son, Ariel.

Oliva said they are determined to file a case against Supt. Palcuto and also against the alleged goons of the vice-mayoralty bet.

They will seek assistance today from the Commission on Human Rights and other agencies.

Rico Palcuto, on the other hand, who was campaigning in barangay Labangon when interviewed by The FREEMAN, denied knowing the incident.

Palcuto, 69, said that it is also very impossible for his men to be responsible of the incident because aside from they are well-disciplined, they were with him all the time to campaign.

He said though that he is ready to face any investigation as he will also conduct his own investigation.

Sr. Insp. David Señor, Chief of Mabolo Police Station, said they will check today at the Land Transportation Office-7 to determine who owns the car.

Calls to Supt. Ariel Palcuto yesterday were not answered. —/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)