Accuser turns into suspect; gets two months jail term

CEBU, Philippines - In an unusual twist of fate, the respondent in a criminal case was cleared of charges, but his accuser instead was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to at least two months in jail.

Cleared of charges was Talisay City health officer Lino Alanzado, the original suspect in the case, while the original complainant was a certain Nestor Boqueron.

Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Judge Mario Manayon said there was no basis to convict Alanzado of grave threats and slight physical injuries. Boqueron filed the case against Alanzado after the two figured in a fistfight almost 10 years ago on October 3, 2001.

However, prosecution witnesses testified during trial that it was Boqueron who allegedly triggered the fight. Alanzado was walking home from a nearby church where he attended mass at that time. Manayon said it was proven during trial that Boqueron had an axe to grind against Alanzado because of the latter’s effort to restore an old road, which was occupied by Boqueron’s family.

Alanzado’s counsel, Sisinio Andales, convinced the court that his client could not have started the fight as he had just come from church and was all by himself. Boqueron reportedly had companions at that time.

Former Talisay City Police chief Cecil Ezra Sandalo also testified that he personally witnessed Boqueron threaten Alanzado during the time the two were already at the police station after the fistfight.

 “Oo tinuod na ako’y nagkulata anang tawhana. Kon mapriso man ko, inigkagawas nako sa prisohan patyon tika,” Sandalo quoted Boqueron as saying.

The court ruled that Alanzado could not be convicted of the case filed by Boqueron because even the latter’s witness, Cornelio Yares, did not even testify that Boqueron suffered injuries as a result of the alleged fistfight with the health officer.

Manayon sentenced Boqueron to 10 days imprisonment for slight physical injuries and another two months imprisonment and a fine of P200 for grave threats. — (FREEMAN)