Gicas file charges against Garcias

CEBU, Philippines - The camp of defeated Dumanjug mayoral candidate Efren “Gun” Gica has filed charges against mayor-elect Nelson Garcia and 10 others before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.

Gica, along with his brother, Erwin, lodged criminal charges for direct assault with attempted homicide and indirect assault against Garcia, nephew Lou Oliver, Fulton Francis Riconalla, Ipot Gicale, Gebral Zozobrado, Nilo Quirante, Jojo Quirante, Willie Cabag and Rafael Baritua and two unidentified persons.

The charges came five days after the police filed criminal charges for physical injuries against Efren and a frustrated homicide case against Erwin.

Police said four witnesses have executed affidavits identifying Efren as the one who allegedly beat up Fulton Francis Riconalla. Erwin was allegedly the one who shot Lou Oliver Garcia on the shoulder last May 12.

In his complaint-affidavit, Efren, a Dumanjug municipal councilor, said he went to the Barangay Ylaya gymnasium last May 12 to thank his supporters for their help during the general elections.

When he reached the gym, he already saw Lou Oliver, Riconalla, Gicale, Cabag, Zozobrado and a number of their supporters inside the gymnasium.

Efren said he tried to evade Garcia’s group at first and went directly to his youth supporters to shake their hands, but Riconalla allegedly punched him on the face. Efren said his supporters tried to bring him out of the gym, but Riconalla allegedly punched him again.

Garcia’s group allegedly chased them outside the gym and continued to hit Efren.

Efren said he fought back until his brother, Wado, arrived. At this point, he reportedly heard two gun shots from behind. They immediately boarded their vehicle and fled. Efren said he also sought medical treatment for the injuries he sustained.

Efren said the acts Garcia’s camp constitute criminal offenses and violated the Revised Penal Code.

“The hatred of (Nelson) Garcia towars me and my father was shared by Lou Oliver (Garcia) and (Fulton Francis) Riconalla (who) were just waiting for opportunity to make good threat (Nelson) threats,” Efren said.

Efren’s brother, Erwin, also executed a separate affidavit-complaint corroborating his brother’s statement.

“(The) gunfire can never be from our end because not one of us was carrying a firearm…we were the ones provoked and Riconalla and his companions started to shoot us,” Erwin said.

Erwin said it is possible that Riconalla or one of Garcia’s supporters was the one who shot Lou Oliver.

Sought for comment, Mayor-elect Garcia said Gica’s camp is merely engaging in “squid tactics” and called the latest complaint a “desperate move.”

Garcia said Erwin could not simply deny the charge leveled against him since the victim positively identified him as the one who shot him. Garcia said the charges Gicas filed were actually an offshoot of the criminal complaints they had filed a week ago against the Gicas.  (FREEMAN NEWS)