Lahug officials accused of mauling BOPK man

CEBU, Philippines - About 24 hours before election day, a supporter of Bando Osmeña – Pundok Kauswagan has accused officials of Barangay Lahug of arresting and mauling him while he was distributing flyers of BOPK in the barangay around 11pm the other night.

Constancio Alimurung, 50, a resident of Lahug, alleged he was distributing flyers with a certain Manolito Dignas when Andrew Biton, 29, barangay treasurer; Samuel Geron, 37; barangay councilman; and other unidentified companions intercepted their motorcycle.

Alimurung alleged he was taken to the house of Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos and was mauled there. Alimurung’s lawyer, Julius Entise, also alleged that the .22 caliber magnum revolver the barangay officials claimed they seized “inflagrante delicto” from Alimurung was planted evidence.

De los Santos, a staunch critic of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, is running for congress for the city’s north district under BOPK’s rival party Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug).

Alimurung and Dignas were intercepted past 11pm. The barangay officials placed under their custody the XRM motorcycle with plate numbers 9582-GR, but Dignas, a resident of Lapu-Lapu City, was made to walk away.

Alimurung was taken to the police station only after midnight.

Based on the barangay blotter, the barangay officials arrested Alimurung and Dignas because they were reportedly distributing flyers that spoke negatively about De los Santos.

In a phone interview, De los said Alimurung was intercepted near her house in Sanson Subdivision, but denied he was brought to her residence, much more mauled there. She said she was at her house at that time for a family affair.

She also denied that her officials used force on Alimurung, saying the latter reportedly hit his face on something hard while trying to resist when he was made to ride the barangay vehicle to be brought to the Mabolo Police Station.

The barangay officials said they brought Alimurung straight to the Mabolo police, but they were reportedly advised to bring him to the Cebu City Medical Center to have his injuries treated.

SPO4 Jackman Aton of the Mabolo Police Station, however, said his colleagues had to bring Alimurung back to CCMC because it reportedly seemed as if his injuries were not treated at all.

A formal complaint for violating the Comelec gun ban will be filed against Alimurung.

Alimurung, for his part, is also contemplating on filing counter charges against the barangay officials. —  THE FREEMAN