Alima-ong members charged

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Police charged with various complaints before the City Prosecution Office the six Datu Alima-ong members who were arrested in a commotion over a land dispute in Talisay.

That, as Senior Superintendent Patrocinio Comendador, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said the continuous tension over land in Lawaan II, Talisay City could drain their resources.

SPO1 Mikie Espina, investigator of the said case, said named respondents were Ramon Eldon Noel, Bernardino Nipa, Benjamin Aleonar, Lorenzo Barazan Jr. and Ricardo Plariza, who claimed to be Alima-ong warriors and their fellow member Rissah Amahan.

The six are now facing trespass to private property, grave coercion, resistance and disobedience to person in authority (when they resisted the investigation of the police for questioning), obstruction of justice, malicious mischief and violation of RA 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 199” cases before the City Prosecution Office.

In last Tuesday’s inquest, the suspects formally entered a waiver of detention, which gave them seven working days to file their counter-affidavit.

Most of the complaints the Alima-ong members are facing stemmed from last Sunday’s incident wherein they were seen allegedly building structures on the recently cleared property of Atty. Raul Sesbreño.

Meanwhile, Sesbreño’s nephew, SFO1 Ramiro Sesbreño, is also facing three separate complaints - illegal possession of firearms after he was allegedly seen carrying a .45 caliber pistol sans a permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) during the confrontation with the police that day, death threats when he allegedly issued these to the residents and attempted murder for reportedly firing his handgun, but missed, to Efren Oros, a resident.

Comendador said as long as the demolition is ongoing and interrupted over and over again by those who are affected they are forced to maximize manpower.

“Securing demolition is not the primary function of the PNP there are some other important things the police have to attend to,” Comendador said.

He directed Supt. Eddie Recamara, Talisay City police chief, to coordinate with the sheriff on the scheduled demolition and to immediately inform the provincial headquarters so they could provide an augmentation team from the Special Reaction Unit. He is also planning to tap neighboring police stations in case there is a need.  

With regards to the statement of the lawyer’s son, Peter Sesbreño who accused Recamara as one of the suspects in the ambush last February which killed her mother, Virginia, their house helper, and a family member, Comendador said he should file formal charges rather than airing such statement without proof.  (FREEMAN)