Cops trace car used by accused in mauling

CEBU, Philippines - The police have already traced the owner of the car reportedly used by Supt. Ariel Palcuto who was accused of mauling a political bet for taking the campaign posters of his father, vice mayoralty bet retired Col. Rico Palcuto.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Director of Cebu City Police Office, revealed that the registered owner of the vehicle, with plate numbers KDR-220, is not directly linked to both Palcutos.

However, Comendador said that the younger Palcuto’s name may not be linked directly on the vehicle’s registered owner but this does not mean that he is not involved in the incident either.

Comendador said that after checking at the Land Transportation Office-7, it was found out that the owner of the black Honda CRV is registered in Region 10.

“It is another person, dili ang gipasanginlan (Palcuto). But this will not necessarily mean na wala na siya’y labot sa incident,” Comendador told reporters yesterday.

The CCPO director declined to name the owner of the vehicle but he said the owner is a prominent personality in the said region and is also known in Cebu City.

Comendador said they may also trace the one who is currently using the vehicle.

“Basin nabaligya lang sa ilaha ang vehicle…Probably, it’s the one being used. There was also positive identification, but we will investigate,” he said.

Comendador said the CCPO will continue its own investigation while also coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights-7 where the complainant sought help to investigate mainly on the incident.

Renil Oliva, the regional chairman and fourth nominee of the Kabataan Partylist, alleged that he and his companion were mauled by a man he identified as Supt. Palcuto and the vice-mayoralty bet’s men after they were accused of tearing his posters.

The incident happened past 11 p.m. last Saturday along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave., few meters away from where the Kabataan Partylist volunteers posted campaign posters for Senatorial candidates Lisa Maza and Satur Ocampo.

In yesterday’ report, lawyer Pedro Leslie Salva, who represents Rico Palcuto and his son Ariel, denied the accusation against his client.

Salva said that the two were not even in the area where the alleged mauling took place and that he can attest to that as he was in the residence of the Palcutos at 10 p.m. last Saturday and left when both Palcutos were preparing to go to bed.

The lawyer said that he thinks the party-list group is only after attention from the media.

He added that they are also contemplating filing libel charges against the Kabataan Partylist members.   (FREEMAN NEWS)